Tragic tale of death at Calliope dock

Photo: MATTHEW GRAY

AT REST: William May’s body very nearly went unclaimed after his tragic death in a workplace accident.

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Nobody knew who to contact when William Craig May was killed in a freak accident at the Calliope Dock on Auckland's North Shore.

It was assumed he had no relations and his body was taken to the Flagstaff Hotel at Devonport along with the remains of another victim, Robert Clarke.

Both men died on November 27, 1906, as preparations were made to start work on the SS Mamari.

The ship had been brought into the dock for repairs and was being stabilised while the water around it was pumped back out to sea to give workers better access.

But it somehow slipped from its chocks causing a miniature tidal wave that swept numerous workers off their feet, causing a range of serious injuries in the process.

William and Robert were crushed and their bodies swept out to the Waitemata where searchers located them a day later.

A third man, James Mayall, died in hospital after he was admitted with a grave head wound.

His remains were claimed by next of kin but the other two casualties lay at the Flagstaff while their employer, shoring contractor W H Brown, decided what to do next.

Brown believed the Auckland Harbour Board was culpable and should pay for funeral arrangements in the absence of relatives.

The board disagreed.

The subsequent bickering lasted a number of days and it was during that time that someone finally found William’s family.

The 21-year-old was not alone in the world as previously thought.

He was the oldest of seven children born to William and Euphemia – old Aucklanders who quickly arranged for their boy’s burial out west at Waikumete once they learned of the tragedy.

Robert Clark was not so fortunate.

His body lay unattended among crates of empty bottles in a lean-to at the back of the hotel for several days until someone noticed it being feasted on by swarms of rats. News of the gruesome find, complete with a vivid description of poor Robert’s corpse, was leaked to newspapers. "Auckland’s hideous shame," the resulting headlines screamed. "Desecration of the dead."

The warring parties, embarrassed by the public outcry, swiftly settled their differences and arranged for Robert’s proper burial.

- © Fairfax NZ News