ACCIDENTS & FATALITIES

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 64, 17 March 1898, Page 6

ACCIDENTS & FATALITIES

At llongotea, on March sth, a young- man named Harry SuHyners attempted suicide by shooting. He put the muzzle of a gun in his mouth, and in pulling the trigger changed the direction of the charge, which went out through the side of his face. He was suffering from the effects of a sunstroke at the time. A little boy named J. Patterson, aged 7 years, was accidentally drowned in the Ohinemuri River on March 2nd. • He was bathing with several other children, and had been playing on a sand bar, where they lingered too long, and got surrounded by the rising tide. The poor little fellow essayed to escape, but in doing so got out of his depth. IKs body has not yet been recovered. At Hnntly on March 9 a boarding house I owned by Mrs Stewart was burnt to the ! ground. Mrs Martin. Mrs Stewart's mother, seventy years ox age, had removed some of the furniture and re-entered the burning building, in the hope of recovering other articles, when she was overcome with smoke and was burnt to death. The building was insured, but the effects of the occupants were not insured. I A sad shooting accident happened at Akatarawa,-near Upper Hutt, on March S. Two brothers, Frederick and William Lee, were mustering cattle, when a bull turned on them. Frederick, aged 18, discharged a gun, and then climbed a tree. He called to his brother to re-load. While the latter was handing his weapon to his brother a branch caught the trigger and the gun went off, the charge landing in Frederick's right side, death being almost instantaneous. An inquest was held at Hikurangi on the 2nd inst. on the body of William Maioha, buahman. Maioha, in company with another man, was breaking out kauri logs, which were lying on the side of a hill. He was examining one of the logs when it started to roll down the slope, and catching his leg rolled over him. His companion and another man got jacks and lifted the log, but Maioha was found to be quite dead. A verdict of accidental death was returned.

Benjamin Hosking, miner, working in the Crown Mines, Karangahake, fell into the Waitawheta River above the Crown Mines train lines on Feb. 23, and was drowned. Deceased had apparently fallen over at a most dangerous spot on tlie track, the road being only two feet wide, with a cliff above and a precipice below. He had fallen on his head on the rocks 20 feet below, and slid into ten feet of water, being probably killed by the fall. Deceased was a single man about 50 years of age. He had no known relatives in New Zealand, lie had resided in Karangahake for the last live or six years.

An accident occurred on March 7 to a coach between Akaroa and Little River. It was diawn by five horses, and when going down the bill from Summit to Little River the horses bolted, the coach struck a telegraph post, and the body of the coach charged through a post and rail fence, and was thrown twenty feet down the side of a hill. There wen; ten passengers on hoard. One man namd Scicvme was badly injured, but the others had a marvellous escape, and beyond a severe shaking and bruises were not seriously hurt. One passenger, Mr A. K. G. Rhone*, who with his wife was on the box seat, was thrown clear 60 feet down the bill. The man who'was badly injured was brought into the Hospital.

A .sad accident occurred on Saturday, Fol>. •_»!), at die Fire Brigades' Demonstration at, the Domain .shortly before the close of proceedings, resulting in a boy, nine years of age, named Percy Grainger, losing iiis life Grainger lived with his parents at Charlotte-street, Eden Terrace. A number of boys were swinging on the wire guys which sustained the wooden posts, from which were suspended discs used in tlte competitions. This swinging eventually loosened one of the posts ami it came to- the ground, striking the boy on the head. The poor little fellow never moved. Mr Brown, a Salvage man, quickly picked him up and took him to the Hospital, but after receiving all attention he died soon afterwards.

Charles Wright, commercial traveller representing the Campbell - Ehrenfried Brewery Company of Auckland, fell from the s.s. "Omapere shortly before the steamer arrived at Napier on February 28. Mr Wright, who was a commercial traveller in the employ of the Campbell-Ehrenfried Company, was in the habit of travelling for the linn in the Auckland and Taranaki provinces. In the ordinary course of duty lie left Auckland in the s.s. Omapere on Tuesday, February 22nd for Gisborne via East Coast ports'. Mr Wright, it appears, was unwell before he left Auckland. He was held in high esteem by his employers, and we have their authority to state that all of his transactions and accounts with the firm are up to date.

A young man, the son of Mr T. Warm, of Matakana, found the body of a boy on the shore near the mouth of the Matakana River on Friday, February 23th. It was very much decomposed, but from the only article of dress on it—a shirt —it was supposed to be the body of a lad named James Scott, who had been living with Mr James tSnell, and had been missing for some weeks. An inquest was held, Mr J. M. King, J.l'., acting as coroner, and Mr T. Cowley, foreman of the jury. Mr Snell in his evidence said the lad had been missing for some time. He had written to the boy's mother, and not receiving any reply, concluded the boy had returned to his home in Auckland. There being no evidence to show how he met his death, the jury returned a verdict of "Found Dead."

A young man by the name of Walter Lee, residing at Taranui, Parua T>ay, met with a fatal accident on Feb. 21.. It appears he and a mate were taking honey from a beehive, and had occasion to fell the limb of a tree in which the hive was built. The limb struck a tree which fell on Lee, first striking him on the back and then severely lacerated his left leg, tearing the Mesh froiu the bone from the thigh to the ankle, and twisting the sinews on the inside of the knee. Dr. Hall was sent for. Owing to the severe nature of the' injuries, Dr. Hall considered it advisable to send for Dr. Sweet for consultation, and both decided that the unfortunate young man should be taken to Whangarei for treatment. Lee was attended by Drs.. Hall and Sweet, who decided to amputate the injured limb. The unfortunate fellow succumbed soon after the operation had taken place, owing to the severe shock his system had received. ' On the night of Feb. 24 a man named Robert Johnston reported to Constable McGovern, stationed at Pukekohe, that Richard Baily Braithwaite, settler, of Buckland, had hanged himself in a cowshed, and was quite dead when discovered. The constable at once proceeded to Auckland,, and arriving at Braithwaite's shed found the body still hanging to a rafter on the loft by' a rope. He cut down the body, which appeared to have been dead some eight or ten hours. There were no marks on the body, and no disarrangement of the clothes, even the hat being kept on. The deceased settler was a single _ man, living with his brother as partner in the farm. He was 55 years of age. The brother is married, and considerably older than deceased. Braithwaite was always we ]Jrespected in the district. He was in goo (1 circumstances, and there was no apparent motive for making away with himself. On the day of his death he had breakfast as usual, and went out to work in the h'elds. He was missed at dinnertime, to be ultimately found by his nephew in the cow-shed as described.

A girl named Ruth Honeyfield, aged 17, was found drowned on February 20 in a small lagoon near the Taranaki Breakwater. It is supposed that she was walking on a planlc which crossed the lagoon, when she fell, and being unable to swim was drowned.

On March 8 an inquest was held at the Empire Hotel, Victoria-street, before Dr. Philson (Coroner), to inquire into the circumstances surrounding the death of Henry John Hartnoll, who died suddenly on the previous evening at his residence, Nelson-street. Dr. Hooper deposed that he was called on Monday evening at hajfpast seven to visit deceased, and found him in a state of collapse, and beyond all earthly aid. He prescribed some soothing pills and brandy, and told Mrs Hartnoll he thought her husband was dying. The deceased died at njne p.m. Mrs Hartnoll handed him a letter, undated, said to have been written by deceased, and which he produced, stating his (deceased's) intention of committing self-destruction owing to loss of employment and want of means to support his family, and that to this end he had taken "Rough on Rats." This poison contained arsenic. Deceased's habits were not temperate and steady, Frances Hartnoll, widow of deceased, identified the letter produced as in the handwriting of her husband. It was found by her in his trousers pocket, under his pillow, after death. He stated that he wrote the letter so that no reflection or blame might be cast upon his wife and family, and that she might be able to produce it at the inquest. She did not think he had been right in his mind for sometime past. On December 26th last he took a dose of chlorodyne, but she discovered the fact in time, and gave him an emetic of mustard and water, which caused him to vomit. The jury returned a verdict to the effect that deceased committed suicide by taking "Rough on Rats" while temporarily deranged. About nine a.m. on March 14th a shocking fatal accident occurred in the upper part of Wyndhara-street, an old man named Robert Sergeant (Kabby), 60 years of age, being killed almost instantly by a kick on the temple from a horse. Shortly after 9 o'clock Sergeant was in the shop of Mr E. J. Swarm, butcher, of Wyndham-street, where he made a purchase of some meat and left the shop. Outside, backed up against the kerb was Mr Svvann's cart, with the brake on, waiting to take out morning orders. The old man went to cross the road when ,he must have slipped against the horse's legs, for Mr H. J. Wilkin, engaged in the shop, saw the horse give a jump and move to the right, then kick out and strike the poor fellow on the temple. Mr Wilkin i-ushed out and, along- with Mr Thos. Stitt, employed in the erection of a brick building next door, got him out jof his awful position. By this time one of the wheels of the cart, it is stated, was across the man's throat ami he wns found to be insensible. Sergeant was carried to the footpath, where he was given some brandy by Mi- J. J. Holland, M.H.R.; but the kick proved too much for him and he died after about a quarter of an hour's suffering. Dr. Hooper was speedily summoned, and so .were the police. Sergeant was then conveyed to the morgue. An inquest was held _ subsequently at Gleeson's Hotel, at which evidence was given by J. J. Holland and R. J. Wilkins as to how the accident occurred, the circumstances of which were reported in Monday's issue. The medical evidence showed that death was due to seroua apoplexy, and the jury returned the verdict " That death was caused by serous apoplexy excited by a fall under the feet of a horse."

On Thursday, March 'lOth, Mr James B. Fairs, book-keeper in the employ of the well-known firm of solicitors, Messrs Devore and Cooper, committed suicide at his mother's house, corner of Hepburn and I Anglesea streets, by shooting himself through the left breast with a Martini-' Henri ritie. Mr Fairs must have got up in the morning and after putting on a pair of trousers and socks, committed the terrible act.- It was done in a very determined fashion.. He evidently put his toe on the trigger of the rifle and held the muzzle with his left hand against his breast. Deceased was 36 years of age, born in Auckland. He was well known and much liked by all with whom he came in contact, for he was goodhearted and had a genial and free manner. He was a member of the Auckland City Schools Committee, and a great enthusiast in volunteer and rifle shooting matters. Deceased was one who promoted the formation of the Old Chums' and Schoolfellows' Association, and took a great interest in bringing the " old boys" together at ' Very many indeed were shocked to learn of his terrible end. Deceased -left on his dressing-table open a letter addressed to his mother, which shows that his mind was unhinged, He wrote: 'My head reels with aches and pains, and I have suffered many great losses in mining speculations, mainly through too much work to do for others, , and not having time to attend to my own private affairs.. I cannot sleep at night, and am now a ruined man in health and wealth. I can stand it no longer, and cannot face the trouble. May God bless you and the family, and help yon especially, and forgive me. I leave all to you. My life is insured in the Government. Life Insurance Office, and there is a small amount to my credit in the Savings Bank, and numerous mining shares. Tbe police re--port of the circumstances were duly placed before Dr.. Philspn (Coroner), and an inquest was held.. After a short deliberation the jury returned a verdict that deceased committed suicide while temporarily insane. On Feb. 24th an explosion of gas took place in a strong room at the basement of the warehouse of Messrs Macky, Logan, Steen and Co., merchants, Victoria and Darby streets, resulting in Mr John Brown, storeman, in the employ of the firm named, and Mr Win. Mitchell, bricklayer's labourer, employed by Mr E. Ellingham, contractor, being severely burned. Mr Ellingham was engaged to have ventilation put in the strong room, and his workmen started by putting a hole through the wall from Elliot-street. Mr Brown went to show the workmen how they would get to the strong room from inside the warehouse, being followed by Mitchell. Brown went into the room to light the gas jefc therein, and immediately he struck a match the explosion occurred, the chamber evidently being full of foul gas. The result was that Brown was knocked kown, and also Mitchell, who was close behind him. The report of the explosion was such a loud one that it not only • startled employees who happened to be in the warehouse, bub it also brought a number of people from adjoining biisiness premises on the scene. The two unfortunate men, on being picked up, were found to be dazed and stunned. Both men were badly burned about the face and neck. Brown's hair and thick whiskers were singed closely, while his shirt had also cauglit on fire.. He was also burned about the face, neck, and arms. Mitchell, who was clean shaved and had the front of his shirt open and his shirt sieeves rolled up, got more burned than Brown. The skin on his face was shrivelled up, while his neck, chest, and arms up to the elbow were badly burned. Dr.. King, who had been meanwhile summoned, was soon in attendance, and he attended to the sufferers. Mr Brown, who is an elder of St.. James's Presbyterian Church, and a man about 50 years of age, was conveyed in a cab to his residence at Eden Vale Koad, Mount Eden.. Mi^Mitchell- is.a man. about 60.. years-, of

age. He lives in Nelsonrstreet. He, was also conveyed to his home in a cab' The report of the explosion was such a loud one that it closed together the Jar<»e iron doors facing Theatre Lane that were open, besides setting fire to papers iji %U strong room and strewing a number of articles on the floor. The room is a dark one and contained a number of documents and reference papers which it appears were only used occasionally. One of the most distressing eases of suicide that has occurred in this city took place on the evening of February 20. Mrs Elizabeth Smyth wife of Mr John Smyth, second messenger at the Bank of New Zealand, having cut her throat with a razor. The deceased. }a4y was so well known by many [ n the city, and the circumstances of hgi? death are so peculiarly distressing, that great sympathy- has been expressed for the husband whose happy home has been so suddenly blighted; One of the strangest features of tW sad occurrence is the apparent uttee absence of any reason for the act. Mj and Mrs Smyth were known to their friends as a very happy couple, and the deceased was a most devoted mother to her three children. Quite recently Mrs Smyth returned fra.m a, holiday spent at Te Awamutu,*where she had gone for achange of air, asshe had been a little "low spirited latterly. Mrs Smyth seemed to have' greatly improved in health, when shu returned home at the beginning of the present month, but suffered from ml somnia. Mrs Smyth seemed cheerful enough, and went to the forenopu service in. St. James' Presbyteriai} Church, of which she has for yeats been a constant member. Mr Smyth conducted the morning service at the Northcote Presbyterian Church, and. when he returned home later pii found that his wife had alreacjy djessed the children and despatched therato Sunday School, whither he at enee followed them, Mr Smyth being" a, teacher. Before leavjng he askecT hi§ -- wife to go for a walk down the wharf and said he would join her after school. Later in the afternoon a lady friend just arrived from Whangarei called on Mrs Smyth ,and the' two went up to the residence of deceased's mother and stayed to tea. Mrs Smytli left a note for her husband stating where she had gone, and that shti would stay to tea. When Mr Smyth returned he had tea with the children, About 6.30 o'clpck Mrs Smyth retur* ned home, and had a chat with he? husband, who shortly afterwards left to assist at the evangelistic service in the City Hall. After Mr Smyth left,';; lady friend called upon Mrs Smyth, , and stayed with her till eight o'clQejj. After the service at the City Hall was over, Mr Smyth returned home about , 10 minutes past 9 o'clock, an<| a fgvvl minutes afterwards the servant girl ran to him, as he was standing ehak ing with some friends at the dpqr.anci . asked him to come in and see Mrs . Smyth. The husband immediately ; went to the kitchen, and there saw his * wife lying on the floor in a pqql q{ blood. He at once rang up Dr.' A- C- . Purchas, who was soon in attendance^ . but of course could do nothing, death " , having already taken place.' Evidently Mrs Smyth had first attempted to cut the tendons of her wrist, and [ then succeeded in cutting her threat, j Apparently a sudden attack of insanr i ity must have followed upon the ! insomnia. At 7.50 o'clock Mrs prayth i was seen by a Miss Simms, when she appeared all right; In fact, throughout the day the deameanour'-qf-de- ; ceased was the same as usual." in, ihe f evening w-hen Mr Smyth left for the 5 City Hall his wife was quite cheerful, 5 and accompanied him to the doorway.' 11 Mrs Smyth was only 30 years of .age,' £ and had three children, the eldest; ■ being about six years of age. Appar*. * ently the eldest girl Ella Smyth wag f the "first to find-her mother, but for? I innately was too young to realise the > terrible thing that had occurred.' The " servant, a girl named A. Grant, had 3 been let out for the evening by Mrs * Snryth, and when she returned and 5 rang for admittance, no one came at * first io open the door, but ultimately 1 the little one, who had been in feed, got up and let the girl in, remarking, ; 'Mamma has fallen .down/ The girl* (. at once went to see Mrs Smy'th, and ' immediately upon doing so ran round [ to the front of the bank, where, as before stated, she found Mr Hmvtlii \ On February %lst Dr. Phiisou heM r an inquiry to ascertain the cir- » cumstances connected with the death of Mrs Elizabeth Smyth. The police were. \ represented by Sergt. Kelly, and Mr John t Leydon,J.P.-,waschosenforemanofthejury. Dr. F. H.- .Purchas gave evidence that \ the cause of death was a gash across the i; throat about five inches "in length and r I extending into the .spine. Death must j have been almost instantaneous. There [ were also five superficial incisions over the radial artery in the left wrist.' Witness { was shown a razor with which he had ne . reason to doubt but that the wounds were i made. It was quite possible to believe tha* the wounds had been self-inflicted, but \ against that was the fact that there were . no less than eight or nine incisions. They t might have been done by herself, and yefe I it would evidence extreme determination. . The jury after a short retirement gay? j'the following verdict:—" That deceased committed suicide while labouring undertemporary insanity without ftny predis^ogt ing cause." __^___