Deplorable Accident.

Thames Star, Volume IIII, Issue 1707, 23 June 1874, Page 2

Deplorable Accident.

Man Killed at the Pumping, As^ X sociation Sh^fb.* -..?;'; 1--..J A deplorable iaccicUnt happened at: the Pumping Association ;shaft ;t!(iis morning, by which a fine young feilqyr named <fbhn C. PerritMost his life. Witli somei other men—one named Charles Tonge—Pcrritt was engaged at thc.,22Q feet level sending up iron rods, portions of a hydraulic lift which had been used in fixing the new -plunger. Th«se rods were-fixed to the capstan, rQpo by means-of a chain, which broke a« one of them was bising hoisted. The rod struck the^ staging, carrying if away and with': it the- unfortunate deceased. Charles Tongc, who was on the same portion of staging, saved himself by jumping on to the side , timbers and screening himself under the sets. Thefe were two other men on the same lcvul, 1 but ■on a different platform,: !a«d as the rod fell perpendicularly, they were not affected. A descent' was made in'the cage to see if Porritt could be rescued. From' whero he fell to the water was a distance of seventy feet, with several feet of gas immediately above the water. On getting as low down as the gas would allow no . trace of the body could be found, and the men .Avh,o had been.working with, deceased returned to the surface. The accident occurred a.,quarter to twelve o'clock, and a'a soon as it was discovered that the body could'not be recovered by the men in the cage, grappling irons were procured in order, to bring it to ; the. surface, Deceased was amalgamator in the Association's battery, but occasionally workedin the shaft. He was a married man, but leaves no family, and it is .said ; that his wife is at present' on a visit to Auckland. Perrittbelonged to theJSayal Brigade, of which corps lie has been a member for some years—from its formation, -Irwe believe. 'It appears singular that the work of fitting the new- plunger of the Pumping Association snould have been accomplished successfully without so inuchas jamming a finger bt any one engaged, and that so sad an accident should occur at the last moment, when those engaged were congratulating themselvesoorn r the success which had' attended their efforts," and their immunity from injury. .. V):_:-?m^ rr,?- -^-- ■ Recpvery of the Body. The body was brought to the surface at twentyiminutes; past two this afternoon. It was found m the column. The head is frightfully mangled, the upper part of the-skull being removed; what other injuries may have been received' remains for a post-mortem,.,to discover. An inquest will -be held tb-inorrow at the Prince.. Alfred Hotel,, where the body of the deceased was removed. Pqrrit's father and brother were present; soon! after! the' accidenf was made known, but they were induced, to go home. Theit grief was painful i 6 witness, the unexpected accident having completely unmanned them. lv 7 ?i' - °- . ' j