ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16558, 23 May 1914, Page 12

ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.

OVERWHELMED BY FALL OF COAL.

FIREMAN’S TRAGIC DEATH. [Per Press Association.] WELLINGTON, May 22. When tho Union Company’s Tahiti was a few hours out from Rarotonga to San Francisco on April 1, a trimmer named 1 Leslie Macpherson met his death under tragio circumstances. At about 7 a.m. deceased wa<s working in the vessel’s bunkers, wheai he was overwhelmed' by a‘heavy fall of coal. Macpherson was extricated with difficulty, and it was found that he was seriously hurt.

Tho ship’s surgeon discovered that the unfortunate man was suffering from a fractured scull. Macpherson lingered till 3 p.m., when he died. The Tahiti was stopped and the bod'y taken ashore in a launch by the firemen and trimmers, and the funeral took place at Rarotonga on the following clay. _ Deceased 1 was a single man, twentysix years-of age, and joined the Tahiti at Sydney before she left for Wellington on March 21.

DEATH FROM STRANGULATION. [Per Press Association.] AUCKLAND, May 22. At an inquest at the mental hospital regarding the death of a patient named Elizabeth Schomberg; a verdict was returned of strangulation while insane, no blame being attachable to the authorities.

COLLISION AT RAILWAY CROSSING. [Per Press Association.! AUCKLAND, May 22. A collision occurred to-day between a train and a CRrt at the Onslow Road railway crossing, Kingsland. A baker’s cart, driven by Carlton Hepwortli, was crossing the line when a train struck the horse, carrying it with the shafts of the vehiclo across the cattle stops. The horse was killed and the Cart was greatly damaged. Hepwortli jumped clear, sustaining only minor injuries. This crossing is particularly dangerous. Similar aecidonts with fatal results occurred there a few months ago.

DROWNED. [Per Press Association.] GISBORNE, May 22. William Cochrane, a middle-aged single man, was drowned in tlio Matawaf River. He fell from his horse over a steep bank into tho flooded stream. Late on Thursday night an old man named Neil Reid .employed as a cook on the schooner Morning Light, at Lyttelton, was found, ’apparently injuroa, lying across the railway at the breastwork opposite the To Anau. The only explanation he could make was'that in recovering Ins hat ho had tripped and fallen, injuring his back. He was removed to the casualty ward and attended to by Dr J. A. •Newall, and yesterday afternoon he was removed to the Christchurch Hospital.