FATAL ACCIDENT AT PLEASANT VALLEY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2031, 10 April 1890, Page 3

FATAL ACCIDENT AT PLEASANT VALLEY.

An accident occurred yesterday morning at Pleasant Valley by which a man name! Mr John Mulvahill was killed instantaneously, Deceased was one of a party of men who are engaged hy Mr D. Gregan on the Geraldine Plat water race. The party are at present at work putting in the head works, and at the spst where the race is to cross the road and tap the river a cutting about 12ft deep by sft wide at the bettom is necessary, and in this cutting deceased with the rest of the party were at work. The men had been working about half an hour yesterday morning when a fall of shingle came away, knocking deceased down and burying him up to about the chest or neck. He was got out immediately, but was found to have been killed instantaneously by the fall. A messenger went off on horseback at once for Dr Pish and Constable .Willoughby, "When the former arrived he found that death must have, been instantaneous. Constable Willoughby proceeded to the place at once and made the necessary arrangements for the inquest. Deceased leaves a wife and large family, for whom a great amount of sympathy in their sudden bereavement is felt.

INQUEST. An inquest was held at the Bush Hotel, Geraldine, at half-past two, before W. H. Moore Esq., J.P., acting coroner, and a jury of six, of whom Mr H. N. Hiskena was chosen foreman. The jury having viewed the body the following evidence was taken : Daniel Gregan, sworn, said : I am a farmer and contractor living in Pleasant Yalley. At present I am engaged on the headworks of the ; Geraldine Plat water race. Deceased, John Mulvahill, was working for me. We went to work at eight o’clock this morning. He, Jacob LeFranz, Samuel Gould, and William Coombs, were all working about the same snot. They were under a face of about twelve feet high with a slope of about half in one. We had all worßed there, .and it was considered safe to work there. The accident happened about nine o’clock to the best of my belief, A fall of earth came down, and when I looked round I saw deceased half buried with the earth against the opposite bank. Thomas Maloney and I took him out as quickly as possible. He never spoke or showed any sigas of life. Samuel Gould, sworn, said: I was working close to Mulvahill before the accident happened. I noticed the earth come away from the face, and called out to deceased to get away, but he had not time to get away. He was facing the bank that fell. The first fall of earth caught deceased about the centre of the body and knocked him down against the opposite bank, and buried him up to the shoulders. Can give no reason for the accident. Never thought the place dangerous. Witness had worked in the same place himself the previous evening.

Bobt, Fish deposed: I am a duly qualified medical practitioner, residing in Geraldine. Had a very urgent message this morning a little after nine, requiring me to go to Pleasant Valley, to an accident there. I went immediately, and found Mulvahill lying upon the bank of the cutting. He was quite dead. There was considerable injury in the lower part of his body. I have examined him carefully since. He was evidently very much crushed in the lower part of his body. I have no doubt the internal organs were ruptured. The shock of that would account for his almost instantaneous death.

The jury, without retiring, returned a verdict of “ Accidental death,” no blame being attachable to the contractor or anyone engaged upon the work.

The funeral takes place this afternoon at half-past three.