KILLED BY HIS CHUM.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2449, 13 March 1909, Page 11 (Supplement)

KILLED BY HIS CHUM.

ENGINEER’S HORRIBLE DEATH. A terrible story of the annihilation of ship’s engineer by the engine’s crank is told by tho London “Daily Telegraph.” Shortly before the steamship Prins Willem, Royal Dutch Steamship Company, was to sail from New York, John Vituel, second assistant engineer, noticed that an oilcup on the arm of the crank was not cmitc full. It was five o’clock, the hour for sailing, but he. determined to take the risk. Seizing an oil-can, Vituel loweied himself into the pit. The crank was just off the centre, and when steam should bo thrown into the cylinder the-big arm would rise, swinging slowly, and descend rapidly on the other side. Vituel had to bend almost double to reach the oil-cup, which lie began filling. In the meantime, Mr Y andcriei.s, the chief engineer, anil Vituoi's intimate friend—for years they hud lived almost as brothers ami were inseparable—had gone to liis post overhead to await the starting signal from the bridge. He was ignorant of Vituel’s perilous position in the narrow 'pit, which was not large enough to accommodate a man except when the crank is up. He naturally supposed that the second assistant was at his regular post. Vituel hud about half finished loading the cup when the signal “Ahead” sounded in the en-gine-room. The hissing and clatter and bustle of the place drowned all other sounds. Suddenly, as Vituel was screwing the cap on the cup, the great arm against which lie- was pressed in the narrow hole trembled for a second, then rose. Vituel uttered an agonising scream. The cry pierced to tlio very heart of Vanderleis, and lie looked down through the iron grating on which he stood. There below him he saw his comrade Vituel standing in the pit with his arms upraised. Above the man’s head was the massive crank descending rapidly. The sight turned the experienced engineer’s brain. With a cry of horror, his hands covering liis eyes, ho dashed to the deck. Even before he had left his post the. crank had dropped, the end caught Vituel in the chest and dragged him down into the 1 bottom of the pit,, where, in one sweep of the big arm, the man’s life was ground out. Even if Vanderleis had remained at his post, it would have been too late. The crank would have’swung down with its own momentum. Once, twice, three times the arm swung arid soon it was moving so fast that one could not have counted the revolutions. Even tIiCL victim’s clothes were torn to shreds. Vanderleis was in a pitiable condition,' on the verge of nervous prostration, and continually calling “Jack, Jack.” With colors lowered the Runs Willem sailed' without him.