ACCIDENTS'AND FATALITIES.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 497, 3 May 1909, Page 7

ACCIDENTS'AND FATALITIES.

, .. ..'•, » —— ■■ : ] ( SUDDEN DEATH. '. The sudden death of a' retired seaman ■ named Fredrick Renher, 60 years of age. i who lad boon working as a general labourer at tho hospital, formed the subject of an 'WJ7; ueld on Saturday, morning by Dr. A. M'Arthur, S.M., coroner. The evidence showed that* deceased, who lived in Mai-tin Square, was a married man with avfamily of ten..' He retired from the sea" eight years ago, and had of late. been employed •' at the hospital. Ho went to work as usual -at eight b clock ; on Friday'morning, and was working on a ladder 1 an hour later, when he was suddenly overcome by faintness. He was' assisted into -the:'hospital, . and recovered under medical attention, but : was- attacked by another fit of-faintness, and in spite of the efforts of tho doctors, died; . The medical evidenco showed that although' deceased appeared to bo a robust healthy man; the state of his heart was such that he might at any time have, died suddenly as tho result of a little exertion. A verdict was returned in, accordance with the medicaLevidence.., . .A BOTTLE-GATHERER'S -WEALTH. . "-. (BT TELEGRAPH—rRESS' ASSOCIATION.) Dimedin, May 2. A man named John Whitford, supposed io bo about 50 years' of age, was found sitting dead in an outbuilding in Walker Street this morning. Deceased was,well-known its ■ a bottle-gatherer, and when his clothes wore searched, bank deposit receipts' for £1300 were found in: thorn. Whitford,' who had boon .a sufferer from heart diseaso, 'is not known to have any relatives in New Zealand. .;'■-.-; A NARROW ESCAPE. CBt TiLiarUvu—rmss assocutioh.) . : ', Napier ; May 1. *_ There was a sensational incident at the Breakwater at midday to-day. Two'youths named Harold Funko (son of the manager of the Hawke'a Bay Soap and Tannery Company's works, Awatoto), and Bert Jones (Funko's cousin, a visitor, from. Onediunga) woro photographing a-heavy sea when a wave ■lifted them off thou- feet. They drifted some distance out," but fortunately woro able to swim. ■ ' .'; James Tonkin, an employeo of the Ferroconcrete Company, plunged into tho water with almo and plank, , and through.- his gallantry both youths were saved. Jones was pretty well exhausted, but duicklv recovered. ' . • , - _ Funko is to bo commended for,tho manner in which ho kept by his cousin ■■ in tho emergency. .JUMPED OVERBOARD. Onr TELEoitAFH-rnEss ■ Association.) > Gisnorno, May 1. '> A man named John Watkin, who was committed yesterday to the Auckland Mental Hospital, jumped overboard from the steamer Tuatoa.. The constable in attendance grabbed him-by tho. leg 'as'he'jumped over tho rail but was unable to hold him. Ho dropped into tho water and was not seen again.