George Butters Sayer, age 28yrs, Occ Cynadie Hand, Died 27 Jan 1908 at the Hainault GM, Boulder.
He had a wife and small child, Mrs Lilla Rushall SAYER nee SMITH. They were married in Boulder in 1905 and their daughter, Marjorie, was born in Boulder in 1906. George was from South Australia and was the son of the late James Sayer of Davenport, Tasmania. His wife Lilla was to re marry Otto Vetterlund in Boulder in 1912.
Reports of this accident and the subsequent court case was reported in newspapers throughout Australia.
Grave of George Butters SAYER in the Boulder Cemetery, Photo – Norm Sharp 2017
Kalgoorlie Miner (WA : 1895 – 1950), Tuesday 28 January 1908, page 4
FATALITY OH THE HAINAULT – MAN TORN TO PIECES BY J BELTING.
A sad fatality occurred on the Hainault mine yesterday afternoon, a young married man, George Butters Sayer, being caught in the belting in the cyanide mill, and actually torn to pieces. The deceased was one of a party of contractors, who were engaged in emptying cyanide vats. About 2.30, he was working just above two mates, Thomas Lowes and Harry H. Mills, who were the only men close by at the time. They cannot give any explanation of the fatality, as according to their statements the first they knew of anything being wrong was to hear a couple of hard bumps.
They looked up, and were horrified to see their mate being whirled round the shafting. Before they could take any steps to save him, his limbs were literally scattered about the building, and then the body fell to the ground, though tho arms remained fast between the belt and the pulley.
The Fimiston police were at once requisitioned, and Constables Spalding and Leahy repaired to the mine, where they found themselves, confronted with the sickening task of collecting the unfortunate man’s scattered remains. Constable Spalding had to remove portions of the arms from the belt and shafting. When the limbs were collected the police removed the remains to the morgue to await an inquest. The deceased was a native of South Australia, and was about 28 years of age. He was a married man, and lived with his wife and child in. North, Terrace Boulder
The funeral will leave his late residence this afternoon at 4 o’clock, en route for the Boulder Cemetery, where his remains will be interred.
Mrs Sayer was to apply to the courts for £400 compensation under the Workers Compensation Act and was successful.
Kalgoorlie Western Argus-21 April 1908.
