WILLIAM TRANTER

BURIED IN A SAND PIT.– On Friday evening the 14^th inst., a sad accident occurred on the Wash Common which terminated in the death of an aged man named William Tranter. It appeared that the deceased was engaged by John Bowles to dig sand from a pit, the property of Mr James Henry Lucas. Both men had been working in the pit since Thursday. During the Friday afternoon Bowles had observed indications of a slight slip and warned the deceased to proceed with his work a little distance from it. About three p m Mr Lucas, the owner of the pit, went to see how the men were getting on. He had been with them about an hour when Bowles suddenly cried out “Look out.” Bowles made his escape, but before his fellow workman could get away a large quantity of sand fell in and buried him. Mr Lucas himself barely escaped injury and a small portion of sand fell around him. It was evident that poor Tranter was underneath and most probably was instantaneously killed. Alarm was instantly given and help was procured in order to recover Tranter, but it was not until a quarter past six that they came upon his body. When found he was quite dead. The body was taken to the adjacent public-house, the “Gun.” The inquest took place the following Saturday morning, at eleven o’clock before Dr Watson, the borough coroner. Mr Thomas Long was foreman of the jury. The above facts were deposed to by Bowles and Mr Lucas. The latter stated that he had refrained from digging at the pit lately and had kept the work back on purpose that Bowles might superintend it, as he was an efficient workman. It was also given in evidence that the pit was fairly dug and that the accident did not occur in consequence of undue undermining operations. The cause of the slip was presumed to be from the wet state of the ground from the late heavy rains. The jury returned a verdict of “Accidental Death.” The deceased was a married man and fifty eight years of age

WILLIAM TRANTER

THE LATE DEATH AT WASH COMMOM.- We are requested to state that the jury at the inquest last Saturday presented their fees to the widow of the deceased man Tranter