THE LATE FATAL ACCIDENT.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 3241, 14 February 1896, Page 2

THE LATE FATAL ACCIDENT.

INQUEST.

An inquiry was held on Thursday evening at the Hawera Hospital, into the circumstances connected with the death of George Hammond, who was killed while riding Anita in the Egmont Cup on Wednesday. Mr Major was coroner, and the jury consisted of Messrs F. A. Furlonge (foreman), A. H. Parkinson, F. Burn, J. Mitchell, W. S. Moore, and A. H. Duxfield.

Sergeant Stagpoole conduoted the inquiry.

Dr Westenra stated that he with Dr Harrison was called while on the racecourse to attend the injured jockey, who was unconscious and bleeding from a large wound in the centre of the scalp, and breathing stertorously. -On arrival at the course hospital artificial respiration was resorted to for a considerable tune and stimulants administered. The deceased never regained consciousness or breathed subsequent to the accident, though the heart continued to beat for some considerable tune, and about an hour afterwards ceased to beat altogether. On examination that day at Hawera Hospital he found that besides the wound already mentioned there was fracture of the base of the skull, which practically made' recovery' hopeless. Nothing more could have been done to prolong life. Mr Duder, owner of Anita, gave formal evidence.

W. H. Keith, horse-trainer, who saw the accident, stated that as the horses approached the turn five were racing pretty well abreast of each other, and appeared to be hugging the rails pretty closely, and one (Anita) was knocked off her feet and fell, tfie jockey being thrown into the centre of the course. Brooklet-fell over Anita, but he could not see if she struck deceased. Prioress and Flying Fish also fell, but Brooklet was the only one that struck deceased. Deceased laid on his back, and never moved.

James McTaggart, jockey, of Palmerston North, was riding Brooklet in the Egmont Cup when the accident occurred. Coming round the turn about five horses were bunched together a little over a length in front of him, "when all at once he saw one horse fall outwards right in his track, and before he could pull out his mount fell right over the fallen torse. He was sttxrxnecl for a while, and could not say whether or not his horse struck the deceased. Anita was trying to get up, but had not time before his mount was on top of her. Witness could not see where deceased was, and did not notice what fell afterwards. He could not say if there was any jostling lamongst the riders, but they seemed all anxious to keep close to the rails. If a rider got in that position he could not as a rule get out. As a rule in a large field such bunching took place. The proper thing to do, if on the outside of a bunch, would be to pull out and give room, and witness would do this.

Alexander McCormick, jockey, Wanganui, rider of Hotspur in the Egmont Cup, stated that he was behind Anita when the accident occurred. Rounding the turn four or five horses were running pretty close together. Anita was on the inside but one, and appeared to get crossed by one of the other horses, which galloped on her legs or something. There were three horses outside of her. and she was jambed in and taken off her legs, and fell towards the centre of the course. He pulled out to get out of her road. Brooklet was running behind him. He hit against Anita as he passed, and his horse nearly came down. None of the others were down at the tune. He could not see the jockey of Anita owing to the dust, and went on without seeing the others fall. The five horses in the bunch were hugging each other closely, but he could not term it unfair riding. For. himself, if on the outside he would not have jambed them, but if on the inside he would not have to stop there. He was almost positive the horse on the outside was the winner, Yattenfeldt. The jury returned a verdict^ of Accidental Death.

The remains of deceased will betaken to Auckland for interment this evening.