ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 10886, 1 July 1899, Page 7

ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.

1 -a- ' TRAGIC OCCURRENCE IN A BALLROOM, A distressing, occurrence took place in the , Prebbleton' Hall, at a ball given by the Star of Canterbury Orange Lodge, last night, when" Mrs'Rathgen, a'well-known resident 3 of Halswell, fell dead during a dance. Mrs 3; Rathgen, who was taking part in the dance, [ J fell suddenly, and expired- almost immediately. The fatality, as may be imagined, ' caused the.most utmost consternation, and | put an end to the evening's festivities. Dr. ' Cooke, of Lincoln, was sent for, but when j ho arrived he could only declare that life \ had passed away. It is supposed the cause ' of death was heart disease, Mrs Rathgen 1 was widow of the late Mr Heinrich Rathgen, ' who for about forty years lived in the Halswell district, where he followed farming pur- } suits. Both he and his wife were widely . I respected throughout North Canterbury. > (PKBSS A.SSOCZATIOU %KrjCGHJJ_S.) NEW PLYMOUTH, June 30. * The body of a young woman, about 19 years of age, was picked up on the beach this morning. It has been identified as that of a domestic servant, named Reader, who came here from Stratford on Saturday last. ' She left a letter addressed to her father. - An inquest will be held on Saturday. AUCKLAND, June 30. - r A young woman, Miss Elsie Atkin, was ) thrown from her horse, and-now lies in a x very critical condition.