ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXVI, Issue 9604, 23 December 1891, Page 5

ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.

[Special to Pbbbs Association.] [Received Dec. 23, at 1 a.m..] A MILLIONAIRE KILLED. SYDNEY, Dec. 22. Mr Harris, a millionaire, was tun over and killed on the railway at,Parramatta to-day. A MISSING SHIP. The ship lolanthe, from Brisbane to Newcastle, is missing. She is now eightyone days out. [Peb Fbxss Association.] AUCKLAND, Dec. 22.

A boy named Donald Craig, three years and seven months old, son of a gardener at Epsom, was drowned there to-day through falling into a well. The beacon keeper at the Manukau Heads, Henry Jacobson, was proceeding down the Manukau harbour when his boat swamped. While he was in the water Jacobson was attacked by a shack, but kept it at bay with an oar. He then drew a sheath knife and ripped the monster severely, and the fish swam away.

An inquest on the body of Patrick Hartnell was held in the Hospital, Ashburton, yesterday afternoon, when the Jury returned a verdict of death caused by injuries received while under the influence o£ liquor from a fall from a horse. DISASTROUS GUN PRACTICE IN THE ENGLISH CHANNEL. About ten o’clock on the morning of Friday, Oct. 30, a large number of fishing boats were lying at anchor off the edge of the whiting grounds, about three miles outside the breakwater at Plymouth. Her Majesty’s gunboat Plucky, commanded by Lieutenant Sydney Fremantle, went out from Devenport for gun-practice, and the target at which she aimed was in dangerous proximity to the boats. A shot fired from the gunboat struck the hooker Sunbeam, owned by the brothers John and Henry Harkcom, amidships. The craft sank within a minute, both her sides being blown out. There was a heavy sea running and a strong wind blowing. After considerable trouble both men were rescued by a man named Murray. Immediately after the Sunbeam had been hit the gunboat fired again, and this time struck tbe Turachapel hooker Alfonso, owned by Frank Harris, who, with a man named George Hisheat, was in the boat at the time. The boat was struck in the stern, where Hisbent was sitting. The Alfonso went down immediately, leaving Harris struggling in the water. No more was seen of his companion, who was believed to have been struck by the shot and killed instantly. Harris, after a short time, was picked up by another boat in a very exhausted state. The three rescued men were immediately taken back to Plymouth. On the way back Murray’s boat passed close to the Plucky, which was steaming away, and Murray hailed her. The vessel' was immediately stopped, and Murray called out, “ Do you know what you have done ?” One of the officers of the ship replied “No; what’s up?” Murray said, “ You havesunktwo trawlers anddrowneda man with your shot.” The officer replied, “No; it is not true! Can we pick the boats up ?” Murray answered, “ No, how can you do that in eighty fathoms of water Pi’ The gunboat then steamed away. On the tidings becoming generally known a scene of great excitement prevailed on the Barbican, and strong opinions were expressed as to the action of the gunboat in firing when so many boats were lying at anchor. Hisbent leaves a wife and five children, who reside at Turnchapol, and are entirely destitute. After the accident Lieutenant Fromantle came into harbour, and reported the circumstance to the Duke of Edinburgh. Later in the day the owners of the sunken boats, together with the rescued men who were fit to attend, also waited on his Royal Highness, and both the commanding officer and the fishermen were requested to reduce their reports into writing for transmission to the Admiralty. The substance of Lieutenant Freemantle’s verbal report is that he was not aware there were any fishing boats within the range of his guns, and that until he was hailed by one of the fishing craft which bore down to take up the men in the water he did not know that any damage had been done. [At the subsequent Court-martial Lieutenant Fremntle was acquitted.]