Widnes Examiner. — 1883-11-03 (Widnes, Cheshire, England)

SITOOKING FATALITY AT WIDNES ALKALI WORKS. At Widnss Accident Hospital, on Sunday morning, there died James Loftus, better known as Jemmy Cairns, who lived at 20, Wellington-street, from injuries he received on the previous evening. Loftus was a causticizer at the works of the Widnes Alkali Company, and on Saturday eveniog whilst following his employment he fell into a caustic liquor well. 'rue deceased was a tall, heavy man, weighing about 20 stone, and the well mouth being only 18 inches wide, would not permit him to slip bodily into the liquor. He was, however, immersed up to the waist in the c )rrosive liquid, with no one in the place to help him. At length two workmen arrived on the spot, rescued hifh from his painful position, and threw cold water upcn him. He was conveyed home on a stretcher, and thence to the Accident Hospital, where he died.—On Tuesday, Mr. L. Rowbottorn, the deputy coroner, held an inqaest on the body at the Mersey Hotel. Mr. Lewin was present on behalf of the relatives of the deceased, and Mr. Husband represented the Widnes Alkali Company, Limited. Mr. R. J. Wild was also present to represent the company. Matthew Carter, of 2.), Sankey-street, foreman of a chemical works, said the deceased NV,ie his brother-in-law, and was 32 years of age, On Sunday morning witness visited the scene of the accident. The well, which was a large boiler, was 27 feet long and 7 feet in diameter; and it had three apertures. The one through which deceas'ad fell was 18 inches wide and 3.h fee in length. There was no covers over the apertures. 'here was a gangway round the boiler, but there was no gas light near the hole of the well. In answer to Mr. Husband, witness said the deceased could not have fallen into the hole from the gangway. In his opinion the deceased got upon the boiler front a heap of lime lying near, to save himself from walking round the gangway, which would occupy five minutes. He had probably whilst crawling on the boiler fallen into the hole. Deceased had worked for the Alkali Company 12 ye Ira, and had been previously scalded at the same place.—Miss Downie, matron at the hospital, said the deceased was admitted on Saturday evening. He was severely cc sided about the legs and lower parts of the body, and died on Sancta}, morning consequent upon the shock to the nervous system. Deceased told her he had fallen into the liquor, which was strong. There was no semblance of drink upon the deceased.—Joshua Rigby Wild, manager of the the Widnes Alkali Works, produced- plans bf the works where deceased was engaged. The height cf the boiler from the floor was 8 feet 6. inches.— James Burns, of 11, Lacey-street, cassticizer, described the means taked to rescue the deceased•from his awful position. The deceased, when lifted front the well, walked about three yards away from the boiler, where he stripped himself, and cold fresh water was thrown upon him. The deceased was a very steady man, and he never saw him get upon the boiler except by the gangway. The jury then proceeded to the works to view the place where the fatality took place, and many of the jury expressni the opinion that it was very dangerous. On returning to the hotel, W. lieskothi of Viaduct-street, engine driver in. the employ of the company, depcsed that whilst he was shunting some waggons on a siding he saw the deceased climbing upon the well from the lime heap.—The Coroner then summed up evidence, and remarked that there were three points to r the jury to consider: Whether the death was accidental, whether it was due to the culpable negligence of any other person, or whether deceased committed suicide.—The foreman of the jttry said there was no doubt the place was dengerous.—Tne Coroner said it was not for the jury to inquire whether the place was dangerous. It was simply their duty to inquire how. the man met his death—accidentally or otherwise. If they had a rider or a recommendation to add to the verdict, it would be forwarded to the proper quarter. After deliberating in private for some time, the jury returned a verdict of accidental death. They recommended that a light should be placed over the well.—Mr. Hustand, on behalf of the company, said the dece ssed was a faithful servant, and they were very sorry this accident had happened to hint. The firm would only be too happy to do anything they possibly could to prevent a similar occurrence in the future. The firm made their own gas, and it would be no trouble to fix a gas bracket wherever it was necessary. If it had been reported to them by the deceased that it was necessary to place a gas jet over the boiler, it would have been done at once .—The inquiry which had cccupled four hours and a helf then teranuated.