ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2631, 13 October 1909, Page 4

ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES

FATAL DYNAMITE ACCIDENT. LABORER KILLED AT OTOKO. A shocking accident which resulted in the death cf a workman on the railway near Gold Creek occurred yesterday afternoon between two and three o’clock. A gang of men were working about a couple of miles away from the tunnel, and were engaged in cutting a rail, using dynamite for the purpose. The victim of the accident, whose name is McGuigan. was standing about forty yards away when the cartridge was fixed and fired. The explosion cut the end of the rail a* anticipated, but by an unfortunate chance the piece detached was biown through the a:r in McGuigan’s direction. The heavy piece of metal struck him fair ac-oss the chest, cutting him terribly. 11 is injuries were such that death must have been instantaneous. The l>ody was taken to Te Kara ka to await an inquest, by direction ot Sergt. Hutton, the body being brought down by the ballast train, reaching le Ivaraka about 7 o’clock last night. The deceased has been employed on “..e railway works for about 12 months. He hails from Christchurch, and was about 32 years of age. The inquest will be held at II o'clock tins morning at Te Ivaraka beiore Mr Julius Caesar, J.P.. arrangements having been made for witnesses to be brought down from Otoko. It* is stated that the usual practice m the work in which the decea'sed was engaged is to cut the rail by an apparatus which is supplied for this purpose. OLD MAX FOUND DEAD. I Pun Rrkss Association'. l CHRISTCHURCH. October 12. William Teague, an olderlv man, who lived in a tent on the banks of the "Waimakariri river, near Green’s Road, was found dead yesterday evening. He was a laborer by occupation, and had lived alone for some time past. It is surmised, from the appearance of the body, that he died two or three days ago. An inquest was held to-dav. Tho house surgeon of the roi-ivirti--<*•]> Hospital stated that the deceased had been an outpatient cf the institution, and had been Treated for syncope. A verdict* was recorded that death resulted from syncope.