History with Brian James: Tragedy at brickworks

At the inquest, which was held this morning, the Coroner (Mr GS Whiteman ) in recording a verdict of accidental death expressed the opinion that the concrete which gave way was not properly set and this was the cause of the accident.

The inquest was held at the Young Court House.

The first witness called was Charles Frederick Kirby, a traveller , who represents the firm of Ruston and Hornsby, of 127 York Street Sydney.

The deceased was an erecting engineer in the employ of Ruston and Hornsby.

He was employed by our firm at Millard brickworks at Young.

He had been with the company for two and a half years, erecting machines.

He was sent to Young by the firm at the request of Millards to erect the machine. Deceased was a very capable man.

He had been engaged in erecting similar machines in Great Britain before coming to Australia. Ruston and Hornsby had the deceased life insured under the Workers Compensation Act.

Mr Kirby stated that he had a knowledge of machinery, and had inspected the machine at the brickworks.

He was a travelling salesman and could only form an opinion as to what caused the accident. A similar accident has not occurred during my term of employment of twelve years with the firm. The engine was a 26 break hp worked from a pulley on to an intermediate counter shaft. The engine had worked on a full load and bricks had been made.

Deceased had been a steady, sober man and very careful. Deceased did the concrete work himself, and if there was any fault in the concrete work, it would be his. I believe that the belt slipped off at a speed of 1750 feet a minute, and caught on the key of the axel, and then acting as a windlass would naturally cause a great strain and cause the weakest part of the structure to give.

George Milroy Whish gave evidence as a duly qualified medical practitioner residing at Young. On April 30 he had been called to Millards Brickworks where I saw the deceased being supported by his comrade. He was conscious. On examination he was found to have compound fractures of both thigh bones, lacerations of right arm, right foot, left ear and left eye. He was suffering from severe shock. He was taken to the District Hospital where he died about 6.15 next morning.

Police Sergeant Christian also gave evidence that he went to Millards Brickworks at Young and there he saw an intermediate shaft with wheels attached. One fly wheel 5 feet in diameter and other small belting wheels one of which were broken. The machinery was out of position and the concrete blocks on which the intermediate gear was running had been broken.

Other witnesses to give evidence were Frank Orlando Bladwell, Machinist., Fredrick George Sheehan, Brickmaker., Charles Kallis ., Jack Symonds and Frank Millard, Director of W. S. Millard. It was established that the concrete blocks had not been given enough time to set and as a result broke when under pressure. A verdict of accidental death was recorded.

Sourced from the Daily Witness, Young, Wednesday 7 May, 1924.