SHOCKING FATALITY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1035, 26 January 1911, Page 5

SHOCKING FATALITY.

TRAIN ACCIDENT AT TRENTHAM. DEATH OF MR. H. M. LYON. |A painful sensation was caused in the city yesterday afternoon when news was received that Mr. H..IL Iron, formerly secretary of tho Wellington Eacing Club and ono of the best-known and highlyrespected .citizens of Wellington, had been knocked down by a tram at Trenthani .Racecourse Station and instantly'killed. ' How the Accident Occurred. ™?^' Se< V vas - s i tt i n S in 'the stationmasters office just before 3.30 p.m. and hr.d intimated his intention of proceeding if A P^ r Hutl ia order to catch one' ot tho ordinary trains to town, and so escape tho crush on the race trains. Hβ , was-informed by Mr. E. A. Dawson, who WaS n n i Ch S ge . of , the station ' that he" would be able to do so by taking the 3.30 up tram just about, due. As Sir Lyonwas not equal to much physical exertion Mr. i)awson assisted him to step from the down platform on'to the rail-' way, and told him to remain between the FiL an i ?r™ , line l tiU the UP train, then whistling for the station, had come to a standstill, and then to walk ronnH 2W»d ° f tte train. Mr. Lyon repliedT All right. Sir. Dawson then crossed the up l l iec - th ? tabkt in the automatic exchange; Turning round again he saw that ll T - L i on '"J' l followed him,.and was tften-the tram being almost upon himstandiog with one foot on the platform,endeavouring to get-up. Mr. Dawson; rashod forward to assist him, but was just • i if' Ti? enfrlno struck- Mr.-Lyoni and he fell between the platform and the carriages, with, the sad result stated above. The train was pulled, up after travelling for about a dozenJ? rc T . Suosequently, an examination- of .thetody was made by Dr. Fyffe, who reported that the deceased had sustained! i!i dec P° ut on the forehead, a fracture of i ' tne.-.skulli imd a compound fracture of" both-.;lege '■.■:.- ./-■ -> !. Biographical Note. > -'■ I The late Mr. Lyon. has been a. famiiian figure .in Wellington for many years. He ; m! bor s °n ivbruaryisr. ISSI-, and-alter an education at the-Col-legiate School, Wellington, and the Christchurch High School, entered the service of u-H, la l e Ml - William L/on. AVith Mr J. E. Blair, of Wellington, he purchased the largo bookselling and stationery business .conducted by Mi-. Lyon. senior, and established tho firm of-Lroa 1 and Blair, which existed for some years, on Lambton Quay, on the site now oceu?f by,. J H ssrs - Wliitcombe and Tombs. ;-i . • Lyon rcm ain«d in the businose w-o 1 a , ftel \ the ', deatll of his father 18i3, ; when he sold out his interest to hia ! partner. . .... In that year he was appointed secrelary, to the Wellington Eacing Club, but resigned the following year to -take up the secretaryship of - the Wellington Harbour rfoard, a potion he retained for . five" years. In 1685 Jie was again appointed secretary to the Eacing Clab, and also .occupied-, the position of secretary to tho ilutt Kailway Company, which controlled '■ the-branch line from i'etone to the Hutt For twenty-fire years he was-eecre'tary' to the AVelhngton Fire Underwriters' Association, v,-hich he resigned in October, last on acconnt. of failing health. Quits jrecently.-he visited iEotorua- on. a healthrecruiting visit, but the trip did not bene■m 1. ft to any appreciable extent, ii. <? "f on ITas always fond of the sport of kings," and was present on.' each day of the Eacing. Club's meeting, which concluded yesterday—for himselt fatally. ' . ■ ■ - He -is surv-ived by a widow, ; four-sons (•n lr - .Harold Lyon, accountant -in the. south British Insurance Company; Mr William Lyon, in tho employ of Messrs.; Stapjes and. Company, of this city;. Mr.. ?•'Si L ? on, m the employ of Messrs... J. \\. Wallace and Company; and Mr ) E, J. Lyon, with Wood Brothers, Ltd., of I iChojiatehurch), and one daughter, llies'i Euby Lyon. The funeral will leave the! late residence of the deceased in- Portland I Crescent at 10 a.m. to-morrow.