THE BUSH FATALITY.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 270, 17 August 1915, Page 4

THE BUSH FATALITY.

COBONEB'S INQUEST. An inquest on the death of Benjamin Francis Gray who died as the result of on accident in the bush at Horopito on Saturday, was held before Mr. ,T. P. Aid ridge, Coroner, yesterday. In his evidence, Mr. Leonard Berg, deceased's employer, stated that he went out 'with the deceased on Saturday morning, taking an extra horse as

the log to come in was a more than ordinarily large one. The log was "waded up and everything went well until about 15 chains from the mill; titer

were then on a safe tram. Witness told deceased to look after the horses while he looked after the brakes. They came to a bend where the pulling was r>. bit hard, and deceased went up to give one of the horses a clout, but the horse did not respond, so he went in to give anther clout, and while do ing so deceased fell in front of truck, which passed over his left leg, smashing it to pulp below the left knee. Witness stopped the horses and ran for assistance; he also sent to Ohakune for a doctor. While, deceased was being carried in he arranged with the rail'vvay people for a special train to take him to the Taihape Hospital. The first thing he did was to put a ligature round deceased's leg to stop the bleeding. His working mates did all that was possible for them to do to secure comfort and quick removal to the hospital. From the time the accident happened to deceased reaching the Taihape Hospital was less than four hours. Witness also paid tribute to the Traffic Manager for his promptitude in having a special train ready for the journey to Taihape.

Dr. Barnett said he saw the deceased at the railway station and had him taken to the hospital. On examinatiort he found a compound fracture of the left leg; also a fracture in the lumber region of the spinal column. He removed the leg. The injuries to the leg alone would not have caused death —death was due to spinal injuries.

The verdict was in accordance with the evidence: that death was the result of injuries sustained in an accident while working at Messrs. Berg Brothers' sawmill, at Horopito, on Saturday morning, August 14th.