ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 451, 9 March 1909, Page 5

ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.

THE DEADLY PEA RIFLE. A DEATH AT THE HOSPITAL. The hospital authorities advised last night that tho youth, Von Keysonberg, who was admitted to the institution on Sunday, suffering from a bullet wound in the throat caused through a pea riile exploding accidentally and cutting the windpipe, died at 9 o'clock last night. The case is a peculiarly sad one. Deceased was a keen sport, and was in the habit of making week-end journeys to South Karori, in search of rabbits. Ho bad an intimate knowledge of guns, and was a good shot. His father is at present an inmate of the hospital, and his mother died some timo ago. An expert in guns, referring to tho danger of pea rifles, explained to a Dominion reporter yesterday evening that nine-tenths of the accidents from this class of gun are caused by cheap continental guns, which class of weapon,, it is stated, is simply thrown together, and is so loosely constructed that most gunsmiths refuse to repair them. Frequently the accident occurs through tho gun going wrong and exploding whilst the owner is looking to find out what has caused the fault. An inquest will probably be held this afternoon. MAN'S BODY FOUND. (bt telegraph—γ-eess association.) Astiburton, March 7. The body of a man was discovered partially immersed in a pool , of dead water under the willow trees on tho south bank of the Ashburton River, a mile from town, this morning. The remains were those of a man about tho average height. The man apparently had no whiskers, and his' hair was grey. He had evidently been dead for two months, and it is thought that tho remains had been washed down the river to where found by. a heavy flood which occurred at tho end of January. Tho police are unaware of any man being missing in Ashburton county, and beyond tho description given, and apart from the socks and boots, there is nothing to lead to identification. Ashburton, March 8. At the inquest on the body of tho man found in the Ashburton river-bed on Sunday, Mr. V. G. Day, S.M.. coronor, who sat without a jury, returned an open verdict, namely, that deceased, whose identity is. unknown, was found dead. Tho evidenco showed that deceased was fully 70 years of ago. FATALLY BURNED. • Napier, March 7. A negro, named Martin Pellot, employed as cook on tho Hon. J. D. Ormond's Karamu station, was so badly burned through the place in which he slept catching firo on Saturday night ( :.that. no died whilo being taken to Hastings. The building was not much damaged. It is supposed that Pellot accidentally set firo to tho place on retiring. Napier, March 8. At the inquest at Hastings touching tho death of Martin Poriva (or Pellor), a native of Ceylon, aged about 45 years, who had just arrived at Karamu station to take up a position as cook, Mr. S. E. M'Carthy, coroner, returned a verdict that deceased met his death owing to being badly burned whilst in a state of intoxication; that every reasonablo attempt was made to rescue him from the burning building; and that ho was properly cared for afterwards.

THE CARTERTON DROWNING CASE". Cartertofy March 8. Further particulars to hand , concerning the drowning of George Burnett at tho Admiral Sawmill shows that deceased rode into tho water on one horse, loading another. The latter pulled back and unseated him, and, in being thrown, deceased was severely kicked by tho animals when struggling in tho commotion in tho clouded water. Buniott sank out of sight in 20 feet of water. Mr. Sexton, and others in tho vicinity, immediately went to tho rescue. Thoy mado sovoral attempts to bring Burnett out, but, owing to the difficult formation of tho river bank, thoy wore powerless to effect this boforo life was extinct, The body was brought to Carterton shortly after 5 yesterday evening. At an inquest held at tho Courthouse before Mr. AV. P. James, S.M., coroner, a verdict of accidental drowning was returned. SERIOUS ACCIDENT. Hokltlka, March 8. James Lincoln, working at Lincoln Bros.' sawmill, Flowory Creek, mot with a sorions accident to-day. Ho had fastened tho iron dogs in a log preparatory to haulago by a steam winch. Ho gavo the signal to start hauling, and when tho strain oaino one of tho dogs broke 'ooso, and tho iron struck Lincoln over tho right eye, causing scvero compound fracturo to tho frontal bone. Tho sufferer was brought to the hospital, but there arc only slight hopes of recovery. PBEMATTOE EXPLOSION OF DYNAMITE. Nelson, March 8. A miner named Ellis met with a serions accident at Pupcmga on Saturday by tho premature explosion of dynamite. One hand was shattered and an cyo injured. Ellis was brought to Nelson Hospital. ■ FRACTURE OF THE SKULL. 1 Wartganul, March 8. At tho inquest on Louio l'eppin n verdict that deceased's death was caused by fracturo of the skull was returned. Tho coroner added a ridor drawing attention to tho unsatisfactory state of tho morgue,