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THE FATALITY AT MUNDARING
WEIR
CORONER'S INQUEST.
The adjourned inquest concerning the
death of William Aldridge, who was killed
at Mundaring Weir on February 23, was
held in the Court-house. Guildford, on
Friday. Mr. P. A. Gugeri acted as coro
ner, and Messrs. J. B. Kline, J. T. Wood,
and F. C. Cumberland composed the jury*
Police Constable McArthur stated that
he was stationed at Mundarmg Weir.
While at tie police camp on February 23
he was informed that a man had been
drowned at the works. On reaching the
place he saw an irregularly-shaped hole,
about 15ft. by 30ft., and about 15ft. deep.
The witness stripped, and dived to re
cover the body. A man named Fraser
eventually brought the body to the sur
face. The usual means to restore anima
tion were employed, but without avail.
The body was then removed to the train,
and thence to the Guildford morgue. The
only mark noticeable on the body of the.
deceased was a small scar on the back.
Alfred Horan stated that he was an en
gine-driver, employed at Mundaring Weir.
He was employed driving the hoisting en-,
gine on February 23. Tbe deceased was
shoving the trucks along the staging, and
hooking them on to the-crane. On the day
in question the deceased did the work of
another employe, named Johnson, for a
few minutes, while the latter was away.
Soon after relieving Johnson, Aldridge
gave the witness the signal to pull up the
track. When the track had been raised^
about two feet the deceased gave the'
signal to stop. The witness stopped im-
mediately. The reason for that signal
was that a guy rope become entangled
with a pipe. Although on the wrong side,
Aldridge took hold of the rope to free it.
While he was looking back to see if the
rope was getting clear of the pipe, the
truck began to swing away from the em
bankment. The deceased tried to pre
vent the truck swinging out by hanging
on to it, and was taken near the edge of
the staging before he released it. As the
track swung out into mid-air it earned
Aldridge with it, as he continued to hangg
on to the rope. The swinging-out of the
truck caused the rope to clear the pipe
and suddenly . As it did the deceased lost his hold, and fell a distance of
lost his hold and fell a distance of
about 35ft. The witness saw Aldridge
strike some of the timber in his descent,
and heard him scream with the pain. He
then fell into the waterhote below. The,
witness did not jerk the track in lower
ing it. He had been engine-driver for
about two years, and had been on that,
particular crane-engine for about a week
prior to the accident. Ho barrier or
staging had ever been erected on the
edge of the staging. It would be in the
?way of the tracks if erected. In his
opinion the works were properly equip
ped. The witness was accustomed to re
ceive signals from Aldridge to lower the
trucks on to the lines. The engine was
not on the staging, but on solid ground,
about 5ft. above the staging,
Albert Fraser said that he was work
ing at Mandating Weir on February 23,
receiving loaded tracks ana retnminq;
I empty ones. At about half-past 1 he
j heard a shout above him. On looking up
he saw Aldridge leaning out from the
stage, with his feet still on it, bat holding
on to the euy-rope attached to the truck.
Directly afterwards the witness saw him
swing; out into mid-air, while the rope paid
out very rapidly. He hung there for a
few seconds, and then dropped. The wit
ness did not see him strike the timbers,
ns there was no obstruction, in any way.
Tbf- witness Tan alona; the -embankment,
and slid down opposite to where tSie de
ceased fell into the water, and dived into
the water to get the deceased oat. It
was some time before the body was re
covered. Aldridge was perfectly sober
previous to the accident. The' witness
was of opinion that a barrier -?hould be
erocted at the spot, but lie did not think
a barrier would have saved deceased, as
the rope drew him from the staging.
Dr. J. E. F. Stewart stated that an
examination of tie body showed that
death was due to asphyxia.
Charles Johnson stated that he . was
working at the jib-crane, and at about
half-past 1 lie asked Aldridare to take his
place for a few minutes. When the wit
ness returned in about six minutes he
could see that something had happened
hy the commotion. He saw t?he body of
the deceased taken from the water. Thi»
place where tbe witness worked wss not
safe. There should have been a harrier
Vbere. A Derscn might easily be thrown
off the wall of the embankment.
Jnlia Aldridjre stated that sbe was the
wife of tfhe decea-=ed. She srw fcrm last on
the Mondav previous to tl»e accident. She
saw his bodv at the Gnfldford morgue on
February 2-t.
The jury returned a verdict of 'acciden-
tal drowning,' according to the medical
evidence.
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