- Details
- Transcribed by unknown author unknown author
- Edition: Sat 30th Nov 1895 Sat 30th Nov 1895
An inquest was held at the Mary Hewetson Hospital on Saturday afternoon touching the death 0f George Dixon aged 68 years who fell from the raliway line at Brigham on the 12th inst , and died at the Hospital on the 22nd.
Mr. Gordon Falcon Coroner for West Cumberland conducted the inquiry and Mr. John Scott was foreman of the jury. John Clark traffic superintendent, C. K,. & P. Railway. formally identified the body as that of ,George Dixon in the employment of the Company, and lately living at Chestnut-hill. He said the deceased had been foreman of the " spare gang." and on the 12th inst. was assisting others on the the line near Penrith.
George Stamper Davies said he was a signalman engaged the low box at Keswick Station. He knew the deceased and saw him on the night of the 12th after the departure of the 9-10 train from Penrith , witness saw him come to the end of the platform as he was putting out the lights .
Dixon borrowed witness’s hand lamp to light him on his way home but did not not go then ; He went to the cabin and waited for the shower to pass as It was a wild night. The deceased man left at ten o`clock , his nearest way home was by the line. Witness set him " up the platforrn ". He had had a drink but was quite able to walk. witness asked him to come down to town, and go that way home, but he preferred to go by the line. there was no train on the line afterwards.
Joseph Clark, farmer Brigham, Keswick, deposed that on Wednesday morning, Nov. l3th, about 6-30 he heard somebody calling his name. The cattle creep is about 70 yards from his house. He went there, in the direction of the calls. and found George Dixon lying just underneath the cattle creep;. He was quite conscious
Witness said, "George what are you doing here?"' He replied that he had tumbled over. Witness asked further, "have you tumbled over this morning?" He replied, "No I have laid all night. I have bean shouting all night." . Witness did not hear anything during the night. Dixon was too badly hurt to get up himself, and when witness got hold of him he shouted, "Keep off I have broken my arm." Witness then went to seek the assistance of Messrs, Melvin and Thompson, and they took him to his home at Chestnut Hill - The Coroner asked if the deceased would have to get off the line at the bridge.
Witness replied that the point at which be would intend to leave the line was at the Brewery.- Mr. John Clark hare inlormed the Coroner that the deceased had a key for the wicket at the Brewery, some 400 or 500 yards higher up.- witness said he believed the cattle creep was about 18ft, high they could get a cart of hay under it, The deceased did not give him any further information. Witness went for assistance when he knew the man was badly hurt, and he had no more talk with him.
There had been rain during the night but the ground was dry where Dixon was lying, and it was fair in the morning.
Graham Brunskill, foreman platelayer, said the deceased with others went by the 7 o'clock train on the morning of the 12th, to work at a place about two miles, on the Keswick side of Penrith. Witness went to visit them at 3.30 in the afternoon It was Penrith fair day. He found they had left their work ; all of them had gone to Penrith. They had worked until noon, but did not resume work after dinner. witness saw Dixon at Penrith about 6-10 p. m.; but did not say anything to him about having left his work., it was against the rules for men to leave work without asking. Witness did not see him come by the train. Dixon appeared to have had some drink, and that was the reason witness did not speak to him.
Mr. Dixon died on the 22nd . The bridge from which he fell was the ordinary kind of cattle creep, not more dangerous than at other places. There Is no railing. and the top of the coping is about 18 in. from the arch. The Coroner, summing up, said it seemed quite clear that the deceased accidentally fell over while making his way home. Though the deceased had had some drink it appeared that he could walk well to enough. Others had met with death from similar causes. He knew what awkward things these' cattle creeps were, with copings projecting just sufficiently a for a person to trip himself, and anyone, without having had drink, might easily fall over on such a wild night. He stated that he had a note from Dr. Crawford, who was called to see the deceased at 7 a.m. on the 13th and found him suffering from a compound comminuted fracture of the left arm.
The bone protruded at the elbow joint, and there was great laceration of the soft parts. Amputation of the arm was imperative. Death was due supervention of hypostatic congestion of the lungs. From the examination made on the morning after the accident, he was of opinion that the deceased was not suffering from the effects of alcohol.
The jury returned a verdict of "Accidental death." They gave their fees to the hospital fund.