FATAL ACCIDENT.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2154, 14 February 1880, Page 2

FATAL ACCIDENT.

TOWN EDITION.

An accident, resulting- in the death of a laborer named Johh Burns, occurred at half-past three this afternoon, alongside the l.hiion Bank. The soil at the spot has been removed to a depth of about 20 feet at the instance of the National Mortgage Agency Co., with the view of erecting now buildings. Burns, with a gang of others, had received his wages for the week about half-an-hour before the mishap. They were working with pick and shovel, getting the last load out for the night, when a slip of earth occurred, and several tons of clay, in huge lumps, rolled forward. A man named McMahon, who was working with Burns, barely had time to escape by rushing back. Burns received the whole weight of the mass, and was buried out of sight. His comrades went vigorously to work, and his body was recovered within four minutes of the time when the fall took place. The unfortunate man, however, had been so badly injured that he breathed his last while being lifted up. Medical aid was promptly on the spot but life was declared to be extinct, and the body was removed to an outhouse at the back of the Club Hotel to await an inquest. Burns was 35 years of age, resided at Saudietown, and he leaves a wife*and family of live young children.