Fatal accident at the Barrow Shipyard

A painful accident, which ended fatally, occurred to a young man named Frederick (note spelling is different on gravestone) Lutkin on Saturday morning. The deceased, who was 22 years of age and worked at the Shipyard, resided in Settle-street. On Saturday morning he went to his work, and about 6.55 a.m., whilst engaged in what is called ‘holding-up’, inside the deck house of a boat in course of construction, by some means the “grip” slipped, and he was precipitated down the hold of the vessel, a distance of some 25 feet. He was picked up in an insensible condition by his fellow workmen, and at once conveyed to the North Lonsdale Hospital, but before his arrival he died. An inquest will be held today.

… The inquest on the body was held on Tuesday afternoon at the Duke of Edinburgh Hotel, before Mr. Coroner Poole. Mr. Foley represented the Shipuilding Company, Mr. Joseph Sansom was the foreman of the jury.

The first witness called was Jas. Flynn, 12c Devonshire Buildings, a labourer, who said he knew the deceased, who was a ‘holder up’ for the rivetters. On the 25th instant the deceased was working on vessel 127 at the Barrow Shipbuilding Yard. Witness could not say exactly where the deceased was at the time of the accident, as witness was working in the hold. The deceased would be on the upper deck in the house. Deceased fell about four feet from witness on the same plank. He (witness) assisted to pick deceased up. He was quite insensible. He was carried to the ambulance house. ….

Henry Raynor, 18 years of age, 2g Brigg (sic)-street, rivet beater… saw the deceased fall. The deceased was engaged in moving the “grab” which held the holding-up hammer. Instead of taking out the hammer as is usual, the deceased pushed the grab along the beam. The weight of the hammer caused the deceased to fall. The weight of the hammer would be about 17½lbs. The grab produced (presumably shown in the inquest) was like those used at the Ship Yard.

Cross-examined: The deceased should have taken the hammer out before moving the grab. - Deceased’s father who was present asked if it was customary for the holders up to shift the grab, and it was stated that they always had to take it along the beam.

The Coroner reviewed the evidence as given, and a verdict of “Accidental death” was returned. A juryman asked the cause of the delay in holding the inquest (they usually took place the day after the death). If it had been a full-bodied man it would be very inconvenient. The Coroner said that would make all the difference, but as he only received information on Sunday morning, and there was some time allowed for getting a jury together, this and other duties to which he had to attend made him call it for that day.

Mr. and Mrs. Lutkin desire to convey their thanks for the numerous tokens of sympathy which they have received under the painful circumstances of their sudden bereavement. Especially would they thank those friends who took an interest in the removal of their deceased son’s body from the hospital to his home.