The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1881-07-06
Inquest as to the cause OF the Death OF
G. H. Piorce.

At an Inquest held at Waikapu, Island of Maui,
ON the 9th day of June AID. 1881, by Thos. w.
Everett, Coroner, over the body of G. II. Pierce,
the following Jury was sworn: w II. CornweIl
Joseph Cockett Wailama, E. c. Eishbourne,
Frank Sylvia, Henry Kekeleiaiku.
H. G.. johnson, sworn-Knew G. II. Pierce
Known him about years, lie Is from Troy, New
York and Is about 3S years of age saw him
last alive about half past tive O'Clock of the even
ing of June 27, 1881, at the arteslan well on the
| Waikapu Commons; he was guiding the rope on
the bull wheel shaft, to keep it from riding his
right hand got caught on the rope, and he was
carried around the shaft as near as l can say his
| left hand got caught and he went around the
shaft twice, then hls body got caught by the same
rope and crushed to death. When his hand
was first caught, he sang out to stop the machine
which was Immediately done, but before II was
STONED he had already been around the shaft two
or three times. As far as | know, Mr.. Anderson
stopped tue machine as quick as he could We
afterwards took him down We gave hlm some
water and in about five minutes he died ne was
unable to swallow. We sent word immediately to
MIR. Cornwel and to the doctor.
By the Jury-While he was guiding the rope, his
attention was called above to the block which was
turning, he either forget where he was, or might
have tumbed, and in trying to catch himself up
got caught in the rope; he Is naturally OF very
cool and cautious disposition do not tnlnk IL
half minute from the time he was caught
until the engine was stopped.
John Anderson, sworn.-Knew q. ID. Pierce.
Knew him since last week. L saw him last alive
lasr evening dune 27th 1881 / ana the engineer
of the Well Boring Machine. did not see when
he was caught, but saw him when he was IN the
rope. was standing about 10 ieet from Where ne
was caught, at the end OF the rope which connects
with the throttle valve, heard him sing out,
g Stop the Engine r.. | turned the steam on I'M
mediatelv, and think the bull wheel shaft made
one or two revolutions from that time until 1t
stopped we had 40 pounds OF steam on then; ts
After turned the steam of | tried to throw on
the bull rope, it WAS tight could not get 1t on
l ran back to the engine; by the time got there
it stopped. We rolled the balance wheel back
wards and then rolled the body ou., Il. c. MIR.
johnson, David Kali, the policeman and myself
only us three were present at the time, the other
two carried him to the shanty. We were hitting
$50 feet of 81 inch pipe out of the ground II was
very heavy, perhaps or tons. de was breath
ing when We took him down, but did not speak
and shortly died.
Bv the Jury-I did not see him when he was
caught II was turning on steam when ne was
caught his head was pointed to the south when he
was taken out.
II. G. johnson, 1ecalled.-I was about or feet
from Mr.. Pierce when he got caught IN the rope.
l had Just put on the bull rope and was going to
loosen the clamps; when we took him out hls
breast was on the shaft.
David Kali. sworn-I am the quarantine officer
left in charge of these men at the afteslan wen;
know Mr.. Pierce; was present when he got Killed
last night June 9th, lSol)i was about ten Ieet
from where he was; he was guiding the rope and
his hand got caught to the rope; he sang out 10
/
ard assisted the other man to get the body on
he went around the shaft with one hand once, and
then his other hand got caught; he went around
again. and then his body got caught; we rolled the
balance wheel backwards and got the body out,
and and the other party took the body TO the
shanty he was breathing, but did not speak and
shortly died.
Bv the Jury-He worked at different things
around the machine; he cried out to stop the
engine.
J. s. Bemis, Md, sworn-I physician
and surgeon i made examination on the body OF
Mr.. Pierce yesterday and to-day he was dead wnen
first saw him found the bones OF his night
hsad crushed, this bone of the left fore arm
br,,ken in several places and the chest walls, both
right and left badly crushed, this being the inlme-
diate cause of his death the blood mad been
flowing from his nostrils, showing that internal
injuries had been very severe; there was an extra
vafation of blood extending IN a line OF some TWO
inches wide from one side of the chest to the other
posterially; this might be readily produced by the
rope as described by the previous witnesses: 4 DO
not think he was able to Breathe save convulstye-
lY and that death must have followed very Iapluly
An inuuisition taken at Waikapu, Island Of
Maui, on the 27th and 18th days Of June A. D.,
1881 before T. W. Everett, one OF the Coroners OF
said island. upon the body Of q. h Beirce then
living dead BY the oaths of the jurors whose names
are herennto subscribed, who being sworn 70 en-
qyfire when how, and By shat means the said 9. H.
Pierce came 70 bis death, upon their oaths DO sa7