DROWNED BY AN UNBROKEN HORSE

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 3719, 3 January 1913, Page 5

DROWNED BY AN UNBROKEN HORSE

THE FATALITY AT WAIPIRO BAY

EVIDENCE AT THE INQUEST.

[BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT] , ' - WAIPIRO BAY, Jan. 2. An inquest was held at 5 p.m. on 31st at the Tawhiti Hotel on the body of Arthur Barnes. Mr W. Oryan was acting Coroner and the jury consisted of H. L. Ellis (foreman), H. Kelling, A. E. Durrant, T. Allan, F. A. Hargreaves and T. Brydon. j Frederick Edward Cummings, sawyer, working at Beckett’s, Te Araroa, stated lie had known deceased nine months. On the evening of the 30th deceased and he were conversing with a young man at the stables who had .some young unbroken' horses which he said had to be delivered bro- ' ken by Wednesday. Some banter ensued and Cummings offered to ride.. Deceased said, “You hold. I’ll ride.” We caught the horse among a number in the stable. He mounted. I was on another horse and led him on to the beach. About half-a-dozen people followed. I asked them to stand hack and give us room for a good go. He mounted. I held by the rope. After a plunge or two we - had a gallop for a 100 yards, I alongside holding. He said, “Let go of it and I’ll see if this thing can buck.” Then the horse went half galloping in the usual manner of young horses, I riding alongside practical l ;; giving a lead. Then lie turned and went straight out to sea, landing on a low rock where he stood. Then Im plunged" seaward, diving and swim; ing. When the horse camev lip his mate was all over the i horse and off the saddle altogether. The horse was , rolling about and the rider was washed from one side to the other, but still had hold of the horse. This was out in the breakers. I tokl him to let go. He was quite sensible and answered, “you stop with me.. He’s all right.” Then about a chain beyond the rocks I ashed him several times to let go, but he always answered “I’m all right.” At the. last he said, ' I have let go.” But he hadn’t. I tried several times to pull him but couldn’t. When I left him his horse was lying with his four feet in the air. He was still clinging on. One wave washed his horse over me. I came back and called for a boat just as my horse touched ground. Then I swam back. When I again returned the boat was launched and the men were standing up to their waists in water. As I returned I saw two men swimming. I was prevented from going back. The deceased was a. first-class horseman, perfectly sober. He could not swim and stuck tefthe horse probably as horses always make for land. But that horse was mad. When standing on the rock deceased said, “This thing won’t buck or go. . It only wants to hide itself.” George Sprigett, laborer, lately working at Huiarua, said he had known deceased from boyhood. He was a shipmate to New Zealand seven years ago. He was Home two years ago. He saw deceased’s parents at the Post Office, New Enden, Kent. He was in deceased’s company during the past week. He saw the accident. The horse turned three or four somersaults in the rough sea. Deceased was of very sober habits. He was a poor swimmer. Constable Thomassen deposed that upon information received about 8.40 p.m. lie proceeded to the beach and saw a number of people attempting to launch a boat. He inquired the matter, and was informed that a horseman was outside the breakers. After a little delay he procured rowlocks. T. Allan, T. McNamara and I pulled outside the breakers and searched the vicinity where the rider was last seen. Then it was quite dark. I called out, thinking the man might he on the rocks. I got no answer. I found the horse with the saddle and bridle on about eight yards from the beach. A big sea. was running. I came back and searched the beach. About 10 p.m. 1 found deceased washed up. I examined the body. There were no marks of violence. The eyes were mutilated by sea lice. I saw deceased about 3 p.m. perfectly sober. I have known him some time. He was a perfectly sober, steady man. A verdict that the deceased met his death by drowning owing to being carried to sea by an unbroken horse was returned.