Paper Documents

Lot 1800    Day 2    Paper Documents

Estimate $600
Bid at live.noble.com.au

COBB & CO, ticket no.1112, 28 March, c1892, Kumara to Springfield, in the name of Mr Hartwell and signed by agent, G.McWilliams, printer's name at base ' Hill, Printer, Greymouth.' Part of selvedge at left side, a few chips across top edge, creases and folds with age toning, otherwise nearly fine.

Mr Hartwell was the engineer in charge of Gillespies Beach Dredge. On 22 August 1892 he had an accident while removing a screw jack with his legs hanging down between the arms of the cog wheel. He asked his son to get water up to the pump which is done by means of an ejector. When his son turned on the steam pipes, somehow the cog wheel started to turn and his legs became caught in the cog wheel which turned around four times before his son could stop it. He had been able to get one leg free but the other was badly crushed. Word was got to the doctor but he could not reach the location until the next morning because of the dark night and high tide. Mr Hartwell had to have his left leg amputated from the knee down and the other was badly broken. Unfortunately, three days later mortification set in and he died.^^With research.