FATAL ACCIDENT AT THE INANGAHUA.

Westport Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1157, 10 March 1874, Page 2

FATAL ACCIDENT AT THE INANGAHUA.

Tlic following particulars of tlie latefatal accident at the Wealth of Nation's Battery arc taken from the Inangahua Herald. The victim John M'lnroy was engaged in the engine house and word was passed to stop the batteries for tiie purpose of cleaning up tiie tables, aud the deceased proceeded to carry out the order. The batteries arc thrown out of gear by a patent clutch ; but this working somewhat stiffly, it is customary for one man to ascend the platform between the water-wheel and machine-house, and by levering back the wheel relieve the pinion-wheel from its weight. A cistern is erected close by to supply the tables, and the continual drip-ping from this had caused an accumulation of green slime which rendered the platform extremely slippery. Having ascended the platform, the deceased proceeded to ease the pinion-wheel, and it is supposed that having effected this the exertion exercised in levering back the wheel caused him to slip his footing before recovering himself, and he then landed with his head between an arm of the wheel and the pinion-shaft. It will be readily understood that even after turning oil" the water in the race, there remains sufficient in the buckets to turn the wheel one revolution as soon as it is relieved of the weight of the batteries ; and therefore as soon as the deceased had levered up the wheel, and the man in side the machine-house had unshipped the batteries the wheel revolved, resulting in the instantanous death of M'J.nroy. Ibe space between the wheel and the pinion shaft dots not exceed four inches, and the deceased's head was compressed to this width, the pressure completely crushing in the skull.