Crushed to Death

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 125, 17 August 1927, Page 1

Crushed to Death

POSTMAN KILLED IN LIFT WELL No One Saw Accident Happen

A shocking fatality occurred in a lift at the Auckland Post Office this morning at about 10 o’clock. ♦go T 5?. oma ® fL A \ , Smi r th \ a Postman, was crushed to death between the lift and the side of the lift well. No one saw the accident happen, and it is surmised that Smith either slipped or fainted as he was bringing the lift up from the basement to the mail-room floor.

Smith was a married man, aged 38, living at Cardwell Street, Onehunga. He had been with the Postal Department for 22% years. The unfortunate man had resigned from the department, and was working in the mail-room until August 27, when his resignation was due. He proposed going into business on his own account. Mr. F. E. Rout, supervisor, was standing near the lift well in the mailroom. He stated that he did not hear anything except what sounded to him like a short scuffle. He turned round instantly, and saw Smith wedged between the lift and the side of the lift well. Death must have been instantaneous. The dead man’s head and arms were above the floor of the lift; his legs were dangling below. It was impossible to move the lift to

extricate him, and the floor of the lift had to be broken away with an iron bar before he could be taken out. Dr. Harke, of Onehunga, and PoliceSergeant Flannigan, were called immediately. Both did everything it was possible to do. The lift was used for carrying mailbags and hampers from the mail-room to the postmen’s branch on the floor above, and to the basement below. Smith had been working in the mailroom for only three days before leaving the department. He was a very quiet, conscientious man, and was popular with his fellow-postmen. Smith was a married man with a family of three. His father met with a similar accident about 40 years ago, falling down a shaft at a West Coast ! coal mine. Mr. P. McGlone, postmaster at New- ' market, is a cousin of deceased.