ACCIDENTS AND DEATHS

Evening Star, Issue 15076, 7 January 1913, Page 5

ACCIDENTS AND DEATHS

Frederick Clephane was drowned in the Waikato River (Auckland) on Sunday. Tho deceased and a companion were on the river in a canoe, and owing to the craft capsizing they were precipitated into fhe water, Clephano’s companion succeeded in swimming adhere. The deceased was only just learning to swim, and sank after swimming about 10 or 12 yards. The bodv was recovered about an hour afterwards. "Clcpliane was 18 years old. Thos. Niccol, aged 28, while at work ou machinery conveying coke from the Auckland gasworks to the outside yards, was entangled in the machinery and killed. He was single, and a former resident of Sydney. At the inquest at Waikanae yesterday into the circumstances attending tho death of Dorothy Campion (aged 10), the evidence tendered was to the effect that her brother picked up the gun not knowing it was loaded and it exploded, the charge entering the girl’s chest. The boy had not even put the gun to his shoulder, although ho pulled the trigger. A verdict of accidental death was returned, no blame being attachable to anyone. The Christchurch ‘Press’ gives particulars of the drowning of Charles W. Hat chard at Sumner on Sunday. He ran out into the breakers, dived into the water, and almost immediately be was seen to throw np Ills hands and sink. Though the tide was low and the water calm, there is at the scene of the accident a sudden drop into the channel of about Bft, and it is Surmised that in going into the water and diving Hatchard must have reached the channel area, and as he was unable to swim he found himself in difficulties. Observing Hatchard’s plight, Mill. C. Fountain (of Christchurch), who was on the beach, quickly went to the drowning man’s assistance. Swimming out, Mr Fountain succeeded in gripping Hatchard around the neck, but Hatchard struggled and seized Mr Fountain, who nearly lost his life as a result of the drowning man’s struggles. He was considerably exhausted,, and after swimming inshore* had to be assisted to land. Efforts to find the bodv ot Hatchard have so far failed, and there are at the present time unrecovered bodies of victims of three drowning tragedies at Sumner during the past week. Alexander Gillandcrs, 45 years of age. manager of the Kaitangata mine, had the misfortune, while engaged in Ids duties yesterday, to fall down a chute, with the result that he broke his right leg between the ankle and the knee. First aid was rendered at the mine, and he was conveyed to the Dunedin Hospital last evening, where he is now doing well. He had a remarkable escape.