BARRYTOWN TRAGEDY

Greymouth Evening Star, 27 October 1931, Page 7

BARRYTOWN TRAGEDY

MR. C. RUGG KILLED

CAR GOES OVER CLIFF The discovery by a passing motorist of a woman and a child of six years, wandering about on the high cliff at the 17 mile Bluff yesterday afternoon, |was the first known indication that a [tragedy had gone unnoticed for about eighteen hours. On enquiries being made, and information gathered from the woman, it was learned that Mr. Charles Rugg of Greymouth, had been fatally injured when his car went over the high bank, and was hurled to the rocky beach some 500 feet below. The woman, Mrs. Rugg, and her son had apparently jumped or been thrown clear before the car had gone many feet over the sloping bank. The car was finally hurled to the beach and wedged between two rocks, Mr Rugg being found at the wheel. . It is stated that Mr Rugg, with his wife and young son, left for Barrytown on Sunday morning, in deceased s five seater Rugby sedan-car. They did not return home that night. Yesterday afternoon, at one o’clock, Mr Thomas Hullah,. of Punakaiki, found Mrs Rugg and her son, on the roadside, near a high cliff, some distal, ce from Barrytown. Mts Rugg was in a semi-conscious condition, and all that she could tell Mr Hullah was that her husband was dead. Mr Hullah conveyed her to Greymouth, and she was then taken to the Greymouth Hospital. The child had escaped injury. Constable Houston proceeded to the scene of the accident and found that deceased had gone over the high cliff in his car, and his body was found in his car on the beach, at the foot of the cliff- It is surmised from the marks of the wheels of the car, that it had travelled almost to the top of the hill, when deceased attempted to change gears, but missed the gear, with the result that the car ran back over the cliff. Tho wife and child were apparently thrown out when the door of the car came away from the machine, but deceased was carried with it to the rocky beach below. An inquest was formally opened this afternoon before the Coroner, Mr W. Meldrum, when John William Rothwell, railway employee, gave evidence of identification of deceased. The inquiry was then adjourned until next Tuesday at 10 a.m.

Deceased, who was a native, of Dillmanstown, was in his fortieth year. Mr Rugg was formerly employed by the Railway Department, as a clerk, but later joined the carrying business conducted in Greymouth by his father, Mr Charles Rugg senior. In 1925, Mr Rugg senior, retired, and deceased assumed control, conducting the business to the time of his death. He was well-known throughout the district. He is survived by his parents, Mr and Mrs Charles Rugg of Hornby, and two sistei's, Mrs A. Stevenson of Hornby, 'and Mrs B. Wearn, of Auckland. An enquiry at the Hospital this afternoon, elicited the information that Mrs. Rugg was suffering from concussion and shock, but her condition had sliglitly improved.

CARS COLLIDE.

OPOTIKI, October 27.

A motor accident occurred when F. Walsh, his wife and daughter, of Onehunga, collided with a car driven by H. Collier, of Kutarere, near Kukumoa Hill. Walsh’s car tipped and was thrown into a drain in five feet of water. Mrs Walsh was badly cut on the eye and received concussion. Miss Walsh was badly cut on the head and is in hospital.

Four passengers in the other car, and Walsh received shock and bruises. Both cars were extensively damaged. CURATOR INJURED CHRISTCHURCH, October 24. James Young, curator of the Christchurch Botanic Gardens, received minor head injuries and shock as the result of an accident near the Sockburn railway crossing, this afternoon. He was treated at the outpatient department of' the Christchurch Hospital, and discharged. Mr, Young, while driving his car along Riccarton Road, was forced to swerve. The car skidded and collided with a post. It was extensively damaged and Mr. Young was cut severely by flying glass. The other occupants of the car were unhurt.