Barnett, William 1914 Aug 21st Tisbury
Engine Mishaps at Tisbury and Fovant
Two shocking road accidents, in which two men met a terrible death, and in which one Salisbury man was terribly injured, were inquired into by the South Wilts Coroner (Mr F H Trethowan) during last weekend. In both cases the victims were employed on road engines and sustained terrible injuries. The first accident was one in which Frederick Biddiscombe, of Donhead St Mary, fell from the traction engine on which he was acting as brakesman and was crushed to death, and in the other case the victim was William Barnett, of Over Wallop, who, when driving near Tisbury, had to jump from his engine to escape an accidental release of very hot steam, and, failing to fall clear, sustained fatal injuries. His assistant, Arthur Tutt, of West Street, Fisherton, was very badly injured.
At the inquest on the Tisbury mishap on Friday afternoon Mr P D Aylward, solicitor, of Salisbury, represented Mr J Salter, Mr Barnett’s employer, and expressed Mr Salter’s deep regret at the accident, and sympathy with the relatives.
Cecil Stanley Barnett, an engine driver of Over Wallop, said his brother was 29 years of age, and was an engine driver in the employ of Mr Salter, of Salisbury.
Clara Parmiter, wife of Charles Parmiter, a farmer, of Hazeldon, stated that on Thursday, in consequence of a report made to her, she went to Highwood Lane, Wardour, and saw a steam lorry there with a man lying underneath it. She sent for assistance, and with the help of her husband, she dragged the deceased from under the lorry. She could see then that he was dead, although he was breathing when she first saw him leaning against the hind wheel if the lorry in a sitting position.
Winifred Austridge, daughter of Henry Austridge, living at Wardour, said that on Thursday at about a quarter past three in the afternoon, she was some distance from Highwood Lane when she heard a report like a gunshot but louder. She then saw a cloud of smoke rise above the trees and heard the hissing of steam from a steam lorry in the lane.
Augustine Witt, farm labourer of Hazelton, Tisbury, said that on Thursday afternoon he was in his house, which was close to Highwood Lane, and heard steam blowing from an engine. He went to see what was the matter, and saw a steam lorry standing in the lane and a man lying against the hind wheel. He made a communication to Mrs Parmiter.
Dr Ensor, of Tisbury, said Barnett was dead when he visited Highwood Lane. Practically the whole of the ribs on the left side were smashed. There was a lacerated wound on the left arm. There was some evidence of injury to the neck, which was swollen. He imagined Barnett jumped from the lorry and was crushed between it and the bank. The injuries were consistent with that explanation.
Charles George Tutt, an engineer, of Salisbury, said he was familiar with the steam lorry, which was in Highwood Lane, and had made all the repairs to it since it had been in Mr Salter’s possession – a period of 13 months. He last saw the engine on August 12th, when it was in good working order. He had examined the lorry since the accident, and found the stop valve had come away and was in the bunker of the engine. The bolts had been stripped off by the bottom flange, and the ends were now in the boiler. One of those ends showed a recent tear, whilst the other gave evidence of a fracture of some standing. He attributed the breaking to crystallisation in the case of least one bolt. The lorry was a folder lorry, and this type was always fitted with the same bolts. In one bolt hole there was evidence of slight leak of steam. He was sure both bolts were in position on Wednesday last. When the valve blew off there could be no way in which Barnett could remain in the bunker in safety, as he would have been scalded to death. He would have had to jump out at the left hand side because of the direction of the steam. There would be a pressure of 200lbs of steam per square inch. The boiler was registered and passed by the National Boilers Association, and, at intervals, examined by the Inspectors of the Association.
In reply to Mr Aylward, witness said that when he saw the valve on Wednesday it was perfectly dry.
The jury returned a verdict of accidental death.
See also, Tutt, Arthur
Wiltshire Coroner's Inquests 1801-1920 