DISTRESSING ACCIDENT.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 131, 14 May 1884, Page 2

DISTRESSING ACCIDENT.

A melancholy accident happened yesterday afternoon, between four and five o’clock, to Mr. Smail, engineer. It appears that Mr. Smail was at work with some of his employes at a large locomotive, taking it to pieces so as to be able to pack it up to be shipped for Auckland by the Waiapu. The work was proceeding, and the framework on which the large boiler rests was being removed, when Mr. Smail went to the end of the boiler where the furnace is, and was stooping down, with his left leg on the ground under it, when something gave way, and the boiler, weighing several tons, fell on to his leg, crushing it and smashing the bone. Assistance was soon at hand and Mr. Smail extricated. Dr. Pollen was sent for, and arrived about five minutes after the accident happened, and had the sufferer removed to the Hospital. Shortly afterwards Dr. Innes arrived, and both doctors agreed that the limb should be amputated, which operation they at once set about performing, and which they managed successfully, the leg being taken off just above the knee. We believe the patient bore the pain with great fortitude, and is, up to the present, doing as well as could be expected. Mr. Smail is a married man with a small family, and general sympathy and regret is expressed for him in his affliction by many and numerous friends.