CASUALTIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2490, 4 December 1901, Page 21

CASUALTIES.

Our Roxburgh correspondent telegraphs: " The Rev. L. J. Ryan, Wesleyan minister here, met with an accident while driving home from Lawrence in a dogcart on Saturday. A little way above the Beaumont one of the wheels struck a large stone, throwing him out, the wheel going over his body. He received a considerable shake and bruise, but is not seriously injured. Mrs Ryan and child, who were also in the trap, managed to retain their seats."

Andrew Ferguson, injured by a fall in the post office lift at Auckland, died in the hospital. He was married; aged 52 years. William Muir, .a gumdigger, was accidentally burned to death in a whare neai* Kumeu, Auckland, on Wednesday.

A man named Joseph M'Guire was found dead in a sitting-room of the Stratford Hotel on the 27th. The landlord went in at 12 o'clock to turn out the lights, and found the man lying on the floor. It is thought that he died in a fit.

A man named Hugh Yorston, about 50 years of age, mft with a nasty accident at Waihola on Wednesday. He was leading a dray loaded with machinery through a gatt at the time, walking backwards, when one of the horses walked on his foot, and, falling on him, fractured his kneecap. He wa-» brought into town by the south express and conveyed to the Hospital. Walking upon barrels has ite dangers, as was seen on Wednesday, when a lad named Albert Jenkins — 14 years of age, and residing in the vicinity of Anderson's Bay road, — in company Avith some others, was indulging in this pastime at the wharf, where a number of casks are usually available. The lad slipped and fell, fracturing bis elbow-ioint, necessitating his removal lo the Hospital. William Millar, an old settler, was killed from a kick in the chest by a draught 1 horse at Masterton, N.T., on Thursday. I James Ritchie, an elderly man, broke his leg at Cromwell on Monday through a loaded dray paseing over the limb. • James Gilmore, a resident on the Goodwood village settlement, sustained a broken thigh and other injuries a few days ago through being thrown out of a cart, which capsized down a steep embankment. Henvy Craze, aged 15, a Press runner, wai killed by falling off the early train from Springfield on Friday. About a quarter of a mile from the city side*' of Hornby the passengers felt a bump, as if the train had gone off the line, but a passenger rushed! through and informed the guard that the boy had fallen off. The brakes were immediately applied, . but the train was on the down grade, and, the line being wet, the brakes had no effect. Craze was attempt- . ing to cross from one carriage to another, when his foot slipped, and he fell under one of the wheels, which passed over his abdomen, and severed an arm and a leg from the* body. A young man named John Soanes felt dead off his bicycle in Christclmrch on Friday. Heart disease was the cause. . The inquest od the boy Craze, killed on. the railway at Christchurch, was held on. Saturday. A verdict of " Accidental death '* was returned, no blami being attachable to anyone.. The opinion was expressed that steps should be taken to prevent newsboys passing' from carriage to carriage while the train is in motion.

Allan Kennedy, aged 67 years, contractor for building a bridge over the Aparima River at Fairfax for the Wallace County, lost his life on Saturday evening by falling from a plank into the river, his heart striking a stringer in the decent. Tho deceased leaves a widow and family, resdent at Waianiwa.

A 12-year-old girl named Lewis met with a serious accident at Tirnnru recently through her clothes catching fire. The child was making herself and & companion a cup of tea, and when in the act of replacing- the lid on the stove, her pinafore caught fire. She rushed out of the house and across the street -with her clothes in flames, and Mr G. H. Hicks, photographer for the Otago Witness, who chanced to be passing at the time, immediately threw down his camera, and, catching the child, rolled hey on the grass and beat out the flames. But for the commendable promptitude with, which Mr Hicka acted it is almost certain that the child would have baen fatally burned. As it was, she was badly scorched about the arms, chest, and face, but it is hoped she will make a speedy re*coiery. The relatives of the girl heartily thanked Mr Hicks for his timely action. — • Southland Weekly Times.