DEER STALKING TRAGEDY

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 111, 7 April 1930, Page 8

DEER STALKING TRAGEDY

COMRADE’S FATAL SHOT. CORONIAL INQUIRY. (Special to “Standard.”) FEILDING, April 7. The sad circumstances under which Mr Ivo Edward Cummerfield, only son of Mr and Mrs E. H. Cummerfield. of Apiti, met his death whilst out deer stalking on the Ruahine Ranges on Friday last were revealed yesterday before Mr E. Goodbehere, district coroner. _ The inquest was held at the residence of deceased’s pnrenta to which place, after a long and difficult journey through dense bush and up and down rugged hills, the body or the unfortunate young man had boon brought. Although the accident occurred only about three miles i,n an airline from Table Flat, the nature of the country to bo covered by the party of 20 settlers -who brought the body in is such that they were required to traverse about 12 miles, and then tracks had to he cut through the dense bush to allow the party to make headway. An indication of the rough nature of the country may be gathered from the fact that on Friday, when the doctor made all haste to render aid to Mr Cummerfield, he was practically in a state of exhaustian on reaching the scone of the accident. MR DICK’S EVIDENCE.

In evidence, Albert Victor Samuel Dick, labourer, stated that on Sunday, March 30, he and deceased, in company with Kenneth Cowan and Douglas Ritchie, loft Apiti on a deerstalking expedition in the Ruahine Ranges at the back of Table Flat.. A camp was established on the bed or the Oroua River, about three and a-half miles from Table Flat, where the party remained until April 2, when witness and deceased went further into the bush on the main range and set up camp close to the south branch of the Oroua River. On Thursday morning they commenced stalking without success and returned to camp at 4.30 o’clock. On Friday they left camp at 7.30 o’clock, walking up the ridge 600 or 700 yards, where they separated, as was customary. Witness went higher up the face of the ridge and deceased travelled round the basin on a lower altitude to stalk. He heard four shots, nt intervals, fired by deceased, from about half a mile distant. The bush was very dense at the place where witness was stalking. Before separating, it was agreed that each should pursue a definite direction and it was understood where ench would go. Between 11 and 11.30 o’clock, witness shot a stag, which was accompanied by a hind. The hind broke away downhill towards a creek and witness followed it for about 500 yards, when he lost sight of the beast, but could hear it ahead. When. the hind reached the creek, it travelled upstream for about 200 yards and witness followed the tracks, but did not sight the animal, He had reached a point in the stream where a log lay at an angle over the stream, when he saw a movement in the scrub about 30 feet from wtyere he was standing. COMRADE SHOT. He watched the object for a few seconds and saw it move away, pause, and then move on again, but he heard no sound. Witness then fired and immediately heard the deceased call out, “My God, Albert, you have shot me in the stomach.” Witness then realised that he had shot his mate and rushed to his aid, but found him already unconscious. He moved deceased on to the creek bed and examined the wound, which was in the right buttock. Witness tried to stop the bleeding and thon went for assistance to Mrs Miller at Table Flat. This was the nearest residence with a telephone. Witness concluded by stating that he had known deceased all his life and they had always been groat friends. They had been deer-stalking together during the past six or seven years. From the arrangements made prior to separating, witness did not expect deceased to bo within 600 or 700 yards of the creek wliere the accident happened. OTHER EVIDENCE. E. H. Cummerfield identified the remains as those of his son and said that Mr Dick and his late son had been life-long friends and both were experienced in deer-stalking. They had gone cut annually for the last 6 or 7 years. Dr H. J. Barnicoat said that ho went to Table Flat on being advised of the accident and, receiving directions, arrived at the scene of the tragedy. There was a gunshot wound in the right buttock. Death was caused by shock and internal haemorrhage. The bullet had apparently travelled up and into the stomach. Constable Ferguson gave evidence as to bringing in the body of deceased. The rescue party had had to remain all night in the bush as the way out was too rugged and dangerous to be undertaken at night.

pEATH THROUGH MISADVENTURE

The Coroner said he could only return a verdict in accordance with the medicnl evidence and state, that deceased met his death through misadventure, no blame being attachable to anyone. It was a most distressing fatality and he could only express liis deep sympathy with the parents of the deceased; A tribute to tne help given by the settlers was also paid by Constable Fergusson who thought the manner in which the helpers had come forward an indication of their esteem for Mr Cummer field, DECEASED’S FUNERAL. The funeral cortege of the late Mr Ivo Cummerfield left his parents’ residence at 2.15 o’clock yesterday, after a short service at the homestead, for the Apiti cemetery. Friends from all parts of the district assembled to pay their last tributes, over 100 cars following the remains. Rev. W. J. Mayo, formerly Anglican vicar at Kimbolton, read the service at the graveside, after which the Masonic Lodge conducted -its service, Bro. •\V. McKay acting ns master of ceremonies and Bro. W. Osborne ns chaplain. Members of the lodge who acted as pallbearers at the cemetery were Messrs W. H. Wntson, A. Dobson, W. Morris, W. Hogan, W. Booth and W. Osborno. Innumerable beautiful wreaths from individuals, sports bodies and other organisations bore evidence of the great resect and esteem in which deceased was hold by the whole community.