The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-03-04 00:00:00

ACCIDENTAL DEATH OF A DIVER.

• , .
I In London, last Thursday, Mr. Payne, the coroner,
!held an inquiry at the " Essex Head," Essex-street,
,Strand, regarding the death of George Thomas
Hodson, a diver. John Scott said he was an attendant
on the sewer flaps on the Thames Embankment. The
deceased had to go down into the sewer, in about 7ft.
in of water, to see that the gates and tidal flaps were
in order, as they occasionally leaked, and allowed the
river water to flow into the sewers. A gate had been
, repaired at Hungerford-bridge, on the report of the
deceased that it was out of order, and the next job was
at Norfolk-street. On Monday he was sent down to
see what was wrong with the tidal flap gate there. It
had previously been raised 2ft. 9in. in order that he
might pass under it. He divested himself of his
own clothing, and. put on the, usual diving dress, a
suit of flannel surmounted by a heavii 'waterproof
garment loaded with lead, and covering the whole
person. For the -supply of air the diver was pro-
vided with a helmet, into which fresh air was pumped
from the Embankment above, while on a stage mid-
way the witness stood to signal to the man in charge
of the pumping apparatus, as the diver•signiilledby
means of ropes to .hirn. He went down and passed
through the gate, and, having seen what was itrein
with the tidal flap, he was returning to be hauled no
by the ropes attached-AO-the diving dress. He had•
signalled "All right" several times, then 'More air,",
as he got a long distancefronithe apparatus, and "Les(
air," as he drew nearer, the tube being hauled in in
order that it should not kink and interrupt the free
passage of the air. At last he signalled that he was
`.` fast," and they proceeded to haul him in, but they could
not move him. The signals from the diver ceasing, the
witness jumped in, and found hirnlammed in the gate.
lefore they could get him out he was dead.- Several'
other witnesses deposed from the moment the
deceased entered the water until they got him out, some
40 minutes; they never oeasedpumping, and the signals-
• cstme regularly from .him until they heard he was
"fast." When the mouthpiece was taken off the
helmet the air came out of it, showing that the supply
had been regularly kept up. .In the helmet was a valve
to let out the foul air, and this was in perfect order.
The work was being done properly, and the deceased •
was well used to his work. Mr. Mills, the divisional'
surgeon, said that death arose from suffocation. • He
could only suppose that when the deceased got jammed.
in the gate he somehow twisted the gear, and so the air
did not reach him. The jury returned a verdict of
AcfeiclenAl do,ath. by. figfiocat.loll-7 MOTTITVS A
raoll
711 E
To .DESTROY • FLrEp:-G eta four- 5AirN
Willb frr
engine. Put it in the back kitchen, nn Eihattfg i,s 44,erio
room, connected with the engine aforesaid'py pe14138:.
-On the shafting pliCe fly wheels, smear the viol4e.iffyitik ,
treaole, and set the engine going. . The flita!ipg-ittli
tricted by the treaele, on the fly-wheels,,wflight *on I
them, and the wheel revolving rapidly, tbey Will be ,
wheeled off. Have a boy under each wheel with a
bat, and let him smite them as they fall, and before
they have time to recover from their dizziness. A
smart boy has been known to kill AB many AB fifty a
day.

signals

•