ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 10268, 10 February 1899, Page 5

ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.

EXTRAORDINARY OCCURRENCE ON THE WELLINGTON WHARF. ONE MAN KILLED AND OTHERS INJURED. (press association - telegram.) WELLINGTON. February 9. A shocking accident happened while the Tarawera, from Sydney, iras being brought up to her berth this afternoon, just before four o'clock. A hawser, which was being used to warp her into position, sprang over the pile head, and with a loud report, levelled all those who were standing near, about a dozen in aIL One man, named Andrew Turning, had his skull fractured, and died two hours afterwards in the hospital. Sergeant Haddrell and F. Trommer received severe wounds in the temple, and 3. Mackay was cut on the chin, and the wound bad to be sewn up. Mrs C. Rigg got a scalp wound 6£ inches long. The others were not hurt to any extent. [By Telegraph.] . (from our special correspoj"d*sn*r.) WELLINGTON, February 9. The principal feature of the fatal accident which occurred on the Wellington wharf thitf afternoon was its appalling sudemncss. At one moment the people were crowding on to the wharf, and in the twinkling of an eye the rope caught and twisted a number of them with marionette contortions in the air for a moment, then flung them to the ground with a thud which could be heard for a considerable distance. To the bystanders the thing appeared like a horrible daylight phantasy, but those who were lucky enough to escape were only too vividly reminded of its reality by the prostrate forms writhing on the floor of the wharf, with blood spurting from their faces. Sergeant Haddrell, who was severely injured in the temple, was trying to keep the crowd back, when he was violently overthrown. The Harbour Board has long recognised the necessity for keeping the public%ack until vessels are tied up. The fatality which attended the accident will emphasise the danger of the present practices, and probably lead to measures being taken to pi-event accidents of the kind in the future. (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) INVERCARGILL, February 9. Mrs Hill, wife of John Hill, a well-known hotelkeeper at Winton, recently retired, wai fond dead, with her head and shoulders in a bath 'of water to-day. Sue was subject to fits, and appeared to have been seized with ' one while wringing out a towel. At Lyttelton, yesterday, an inquest touch* ing the death of John Hunt, was held before .' Mr R. Beetham, coroner, and a jury, who chose for their foreman Mr C. W.. Rowe. The evidence of a number of witnesses ; showed *thulJ*'deceßaed • t 'M<i been drinking, | that his brain was congested, and that the cause of death was laceration of the brain, which might have been caused by a jolt from a sudden fall. There had. been no fracture of the skull. The jury found a verdict in accordance with the evidence. ■ ,