ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES,

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 280, 19 August 1908, Page 8

ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES,

(BY TELEGRAPH—rKESS ASSOCIATION.) -4 OIL LAUNCH CAPSIZED. \ A MAN DROWNED. Dunedin, August 18. A drowning accidcnt occurred at tho mouth of the Catlins estuary yesterday afternoon. Two young men named Alfred 0. Bates and Thomas Murray had been out fishing in tho oil launch Shamrock, owned by Bates, and wore crossing tho liar when a big wave struck tho boat, and stove her nose in, also capsizing hor. The men scramblod back, and Bates managed to get his gum-boots off, and then attempted, to help Murray to got his off. Murray, however, caught hold of him aud held him. Another wavo came, and both men were washed off. Murray was badly handicapped in tho'water by his gumboots, and Bates mado two attempts to save hint. Bates then lost sight of him, and after being an hour in the water managed to scramblo ashore in an oxhausted condition. Two hours after he was found by tho Miller family, who live near Catlins Heads, and cared for. Bates is now quito recovered, but Murray has beeii drowned. Tho polico and others are searching for tho body, so far without success. Murray was engaged to bo married'very shortly. He is a son of Mr. James Murray, of Port Molyneaux. The oil launch was completely smashed up.

KILLED BY A PALL OP CLAY. Christohurch, August 18. A distressing fatality occurred at the reservoir works on Cashmere Hills this morning, a young single man named George Castles being killed by a fall of clay. The police report states that Castles, with two other men named Samuel Dwight' and Timothy Donoghuo, was* working in a cutting of'clay which was being undermined prior to a fall. Castles was warned by tho engineer in charge about twenty minutes before tho disaster not to go under so far, as the bank was not safe. Tho young man replied that it was quite safe, and he would not mind sleeping there. Tho bank fell upon Castles without any warning, and when he was dug out about ten minutes later life was extinct. Tho body was removed to the morgue, where an inquest was'held this evening, a verdict of accidental death being returned.