HE DIED ON HIS ENGINE

Shannon News, 20 August 1926, Page 4

HE DIED ON HIS ENGINE

FATE OF A DRIVER . SUFFOCATED IN A TUNNED. . dangers of monoxide gas. . MURRURANDI (N.S.W.). Aug. 4. “That Herbert Hqffernan died in Ardglen Tunnel on July 9, from asphyxia and poisoning by carbon monoxide, accidentally caused by the engine, upon which he was employed, accumulating fumes and gases in the funnel, and through there not being sufficient means for the dispersal of the gasses and the protection of Heffernan.” This was the verdict of the coroner at the inquest. “I heard a whistle, but took no notice _until it blew again. This "vVas unusual. The sound came from the top of the ash bank, so I slopped the car ,and from the railway line a voice cried, ‘Oh, my God, quick!" Night Officer Robert Russell, who was motoring along the Great Northern Road, when he came across the locomotive of the train, which crashed outside Ardglen on July 9, made hiis statement at the inquiry tolday concerning the death of Fireman Heffernan. The night officer said he found the driver, Thomas Claude Holt, in a semi-conscious state, leaning over the tender rail. Holt ’ mumbled that he was ‘burnt, and called for water. Heffernan was lying spread on his back, apparently dead. Dr. Middleton said that ,in his opinion, death was due to asphyxiation and poisoning by carbon monoxide. In the confined space of a tunnel and the open cab of an engine carbon monoxide from the smoke would be contributory to coma, and perhaps ; death. Assuming that there were ppclcets of gas in the tunnel, the : puffing of the engine would circulate this gas. Driver’s Version. Driver Thomas Claude Holt appeared still to be very much shaken. He entered the box with his head swathed in bandages and his right hand tied up. Hp described that inside the tunnel the train was stopping, and he felt himself being overcome by some unusual .circumstances. He had a vague recollection of stopping the train. That was all ne Knew. He had no remembrance of starting it again. He remembered blowing his whistle Heffernan was lying across the footplate. Witness spoke to him, but he did not reply. He felt his pulse,,'but. there was no movement. Witness had been burnt on the back of the right hand, the right side of the hand and neck.