Kentish Mercury, Saturday 14 May 1881.

Buried alive at Greenwich.

On Friday, Mr. Carrtar held and inquest at the "Three Tuns," London Street, Greenwich, on the body of James Smith, labourer, age 56, of 22, Regent Street, Blackheath Hill, who met his death by being buried by a fall of earth.

Mr. E. N. Wood, solicitor, of Ashburnham Grove, watched the case on the part of the widow and family of the deceased, and Mr. Hughes, solicitor, of Lewisham, for Mr. Bridel, builder, King George Street, Greenwich, in whose employ deceased was at the time of the accident.

The jury having viewed the body in the parish mortuary, the first witness was Elizabeth Smith, the widow of deceased, who identified the body, and said she last him alive at half past 8 o'clock, when he came home to breakfast. He had only been set on work on Tuesday afternoon.

James Elliston, laborer, or 60, Blissett Street, Greenwich, in the employ of Mr. Bridel, said on Wednesday morning he was at work with the deceased, getting out some ground for building purposes. Only he and deceased were in the hole, but there were five men on the job. He asked the deceased if he would not put some timber in the hole, and deceased replied that the ground would stand. Between 9:30 and 9:45 the ground fell in, and deceased was knocked down. They were just turning round to come out of the hole when the accident occurred, between the sewer and the Fire Brigade station, (Grove Street, Blackheath Hill.)

Deceased told him Mr Bridel said the top ground should have been battered, but it was not done. They were not undermining but were standing by a wall of earth 10 feet high. They had just finished the hole when the accident occurred. Witness was buried up to the waist, and Mr Bridel pulled him out. Deceased was lying face downwards, after being knocked down, and was covered by a foot or 18 inches of Earth. The whole of the men and some firemen assisted to get him out, but they did not know where he was at first, and dug in the wrong place. Could not tell why deceased had not carried out Mr. Bridel's orders. It was made ground for five or six feet and it was that gave away. Deceased was got out in about 10 minutes after the accident. Three or four square yards of ground fell, quite sufficient to cover deceased. He pointed out where deceased fell but the other men thought he was in another part and dug there, but witness dug where he thought deceased was, and found him. Deceased was in a stooping position, and called out when the earth fell. Witness believe the ground should have been shored up.

By Mr. Wood:- The width of the trench was 3 feet.

By Mr. Hughes:- Believed if he had been buried with the same amount of earth as fell on deceased he should have extricated himself. Deceased was face downwards, and powerless.

John Henderson, Wheelwright, of 12, Orchard Street, Blackheath Hill, said he saw deceased at work Saw deceased pulled out of the earth by his legs.

Mr. Bowen, surgeon, of Lewisham Road, said he was called to see deceased about a quarter to ten on Wednesday morning, and his head and body were out of the ground, and the men were digging round him to get his legs out. he was in a sort of sitting position then, and was pulled out in a very short time, deceased being then insensible. When he got out he was quite dead. Death was due to suffocation by being buried by the earth. There was no earth in his mouth or nostrils, but some round the lips. There was no marks of violence on the exposed part of the body.

Henry Bridel, a builder, of 98, King George Street, Greenwich, said the excavation was the building stables for Messrs. Pickford, carriers. Witness stumped out the ground, and engaged deceased on Tuesday morning, giving him instructions what to do. The main part of the ground was got out a week before, and deceased said he knew perfectly well what to do. He told deceased he thought it wanted a little more battering, but deceased neglected to do it. Deceased it only started on that position portion of the job on Tuesday morning. No doubt the rain on Monday had loosened the made ground, and caused it to slip. Directly the accident occurred he called his men, ran to the Fire Brigade Station, said a man was buried, and seven firemen ran into the trench, and he believed if they had not been so many men in the trench deceased would have been got a quicker. There was about a foot of ground on deceased's legs and about 18 inches on his head. Deceased was found with his head on the ground, doubled up. Know the nature of the ground was to shelve off, and therefore he told deceased to "batter" it, but he was self confident that it was safe. Witness believed if the ground had been battered (sloped off) a little it would not have slipped. Witness has not been there 3 minutes before the accident occurred. He saw sufficient earth had been got out, and told them that would do, and has he turned away the earth fell.

Thomas Bethel, bricklayers labourer, of North Kent Terrace, New Cross, in the employ of last witness, said he was at work about 10 yards from the deceased. He heard a cry, and then jumped into the hole, dug, and assisted to get deceased out, which was done in about 10 minutes. About 6 or 9 inches of ground were on deceased first, but they might have thrown two or 3 cwt. back upon him as they did not know where to pick up on him. Heard Mr. Bridel tell deceased to batter the ground down, and on Tuesday afternoon he was engaged on that work. It was like soil, soft sand.

The jury returned a verdict that deceased died from suffocation from being buried by some fallen earth.

The Coroner told Mr. Bridel the jury were of opinion that it would have been advisable on his part to see the deceased had carried out his orders with a little more efficiency, as if the earth had been carried a little further back the accident would not have occurred.

Mr. Bridel said that was the first accident that had happened at any works of his, and deceased was too confidence that the place was safe.

Mr Hughes intimated that Mr. Bridel would bear the expenses of the funeral.