ACCIDENTS AND INQUESTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6931, 4 February 1884, Page 1 (Supplement)

ACCIDENTS AND INQUESTS.

TERRIBLE HURRICANE AT RAROTOA'GA. Br the arrival of the cutter Daphne from the Islands we learn that a terrific hurricane had swept over the island of of Rarotonga, doing not only serious damage to plantations and residences on shore, but; also causing the total wreck of three Auckland schooners and the loss of the lives of six Europeans and one native. The loss of property by this hnrricane 13 most serious, as in the schooners wrecked, this port has lost three of the finest vessels which hailed from it. The agues Bell and Makea Ariki were two new vessels specially built by Messrs. Sims and Brown for Messrs. Donald and Edeu borough, and it only seems but a few daya since that we were called npon to chronicle their launch from the builders' yards. The Agnes Bell waa the larger vessel of the two, being of 149 tons net register, the Makea Ariki coming next in size, being of 72 tons, whilst the Atlantic was of 60 tons. Both the two former vessels were built and launched during ISS3, whilst the Atlantia was built in 1574, so that she was comparatively speaking also an almost new vessel, as great care had been taken of her by her owners, she, like the other two vessels, being well found in gear, &c, The galo commenced on the morning of Monday, December 17, with a strong breeze setting in from the S.E. with heavy rain. At this time the three schooners Agnes Bell, Makea Ariki, and Atlantic were lying safe at their moorings in Avarau harbour, at Rarotonga. At noon the wind hauled round to the eastward, and continued from that quarter until about eight o'clock, when the gale commenced to increase in strength. At ten p.m. the wind and sea increased to such an extent that the seas were making clean breaches over the three schooners. The gale from this time increased rapidly, and all on board and on shore were working hard, doing everything in their power to save the ships and the lives of those on

them. At a quarter past ten the mooring lines began to give way, the wind at this time having increased to hurricane force. At eleven p.m. the wind suddenly hauled into the north, and blew a perfect hurricane. Trees of every description were torn out of the ground by the roots, besides damaging the cotton crops to such an extent as will in all probability blast it for the season. At midnight the vessels got adrift, All their lines having parted, Captain Schultz, of the Atlantic, seeing there was no hope for his vessel, made up his mind to beach her, which was accordingly done, but it was only with the greatest difficulty that the captain and his crew managed to save themselves, barely getting on shore with their lives. By this time it was seen that the other two vessels were coming bodily on to the reer, and that the sea was breaking clean over them. Boats were got out and manned, j and every etforc made to reach the Agnes I Bell and Makea Ariki, but without succesß. Again and again did the boats try to ge.t out to the assistance of the unfortunate men on the schooner, but despite the noble efforts of the men in the boats they were unsuccessful, for at this time no boat could live in the sea. The two vessels were notv ashore on the south reef and fast breaking up, the two lying alongside each other. About one a.m. the Makea Ariki was observed to suddenly careen over and disappear. Captain Ayres, John Montgomery (his mate), Patrick Duncan (his cook and steward), with Mr. Stanley Heather (who most nobly stuck to his post endeavouring to save life and property), took refuge on board the Agues Bell. At two a.m. the masts of the Agnes Bell went over the side. Those on board were now continnally showing flash lights, and in that way making appeals to the people on shore to save them from their doom ; but to render assistance was utterly impossible, and all that could be done was to stand by and watch and hope that tho hurricane would abate its fury. For half-an hour the flash-light signals were made, and then suddenly tne Agnes Bell broke in two —at her midships—and in a few minutes after she was a complete wreck, broken to pieces. A Neirve Islander—one of the two natives that were on board—had miraculously managed to reach the shore on a piece of wreckage. From this man, who was half dead from fatigue, it was learnt that the whole of the unfortunate people left were washed completely away by tho tremendous surf, he being' the only Burvivor. With daylight on Tuesday, 18th December, a sad sight was to be seen—for miles the beach was strewn with wreckage of the hulls of the Agnes Bell and Makea Ariki and their cargoes. The Atlantic was high np on the beach, smashed and knocked about, the tide flowing clean through her. Throughout Tuesday, the hurricane continued to blow, but although the beach was explored for miles, no traces of the bodies of any of the missing men were to be found. On the day named, the wrecks of the Agnes Bell and Makea Ariki were sold by public auction, the former realising 65 dollars, and the Makea Ariki, 25 dollars. On Thursday morning, other search parties went out exploring the beach, and at about ten o'clock the body of poor Captain Munn was washed on shore. In the afternoon he was buried in the churchyard, the funeral beiog attended by all the European residents, and a large number of natives, on the island.

The hurricane of the 17th Jand 18th of December last will ever be remembered ia the annals of Rarotonga as the period of the most disastrous calamity that has ever befallen the island since its discovery in 1823. Hurricanes are rare there, none having been experienced for some IS or 20 years, and even then without loss of life or shipping. I Mr. Stanley Heather, who 80 nobly lost his life in trying tu save others, has been a resident on the island for some nine years, and he leaves a wife and three children to mourn his loss. Air. Heather was a brother of Mr. A. Heather of this city. The follow* ing is a list of those who lost their lives : William filunn, master of schooner Agnes Bell. John Anderson, mate of ditto. Thomas Ayres, master of schooner Makes Ariki. John Montgomery, mate ditto. Patrick Duncan, cook and steward ditto. Mr. Stanley Heather. A Kanaka (Vavia). The schooner Agnes Bell arrived at Rarotonga on the 7 th December, and had received on board a full cargo, and she was to have eailed on the 18th for Auckland. The Makea Ariki arrived from Auckland on the 15th December, and the Atlantic (also from Auckland) put in an appearance the next day. All three vessels were flying the same housenag (Messrs. Donald and Edenborough's), aci 1 . all ha.l on board valuable cargoes. On Friday, 21st December, the schooners Fairy Queen and Flora both arrived. Captain Dickson reported that his glass had gone to 29 '20, and that at the time of the height of the hurricane he was obliged to order

hfcles to be cut in the bulwarks of his vesse' to allow the seas that were constantly flooding the decks to escape. The losses caused by the wreck of these vessels tall heavily upon our local companies, as the following particulars of insurances will show :—The Aanes Bell was insured in the New Zealand Insurance Company for £2300; of that amount the company bad reinsured £300 in the Mutual, £500 in the South British, and £500 in the Union Office. Her cargo was insured in the United Insurance Company for £3500. The Makea Ariki Tfas insured in the New Zealand Office for £1000, and her outward cargo for £500, and an open policy for returning cargo for £1200 in the - same office. The Atlantic was insured for £SOO in the New Zealand Insurance Company, of which amount £200 was re-insured in the South British. The cargo, Auckland to Karotoiiga, was insured for~£ooo in the New Zealand Office. Of this amount, £300 was re-insured in the Colonial Insurance Company. Shortly after one o'clock on January 9 a yoang man had a narrow escape of being drowned at the City Baths. It appears he misjudged the depth, and jumped off the spring-board at the north-east corner of the baths. Being unable to swim, ho was soon in difficulties, and was in a fair way of drowning, when Mr. A. H. Keesing, the wellknown athlete, jumped in and brought the drowning mun to the bath steps in a very ted condition. Mr. John Regan, of Wellesley-street Weßt, met with a nasty accident on Jauuary 9, while fishing on the Queen-street Wharf. He threw out his line, but it got entangled in some way, and a large schnapper hook caught in his eyelid, just escaping destroying tlie eye. He was taken to Dr. Tunnent's surgery, where ths hook had to be cut out before Mr. Regan could get released from it. A young man, named Alexander Manley, a slaughterman by trade, died suddenly on the 4th January on board the scow Ghost. He had taken a fit, and went out of one into another till he died. An inquest was held on the sth January by Dr. Philson, Coroner, at Mr. Dervan's hotel. Dr. Honeyman, who made the post mortem, deposed that the cause of death was the bursting of a blood vessel in the region of the brain, and that deceased died of sanguineous apoplexy. . On Jan. 7 a serious accident occurred to Mr. James Forrest, one of the contractors for the works on the Taotaoroa main road. The tomahawk, with which he was trimming a piece of ' wood, glanced off and struck him across the left knee, inflicting a deep incised wound. Mr. Forrest was brought into Cambridge at once, aud his injury was attended to by Dr. Cushney. A coroner's inque6t was held on the 11th January at the Oratia Hotel (Mr. Andrew Heard, proprietor), before Mr. Bonar, J.P., On the body of a gutndigger named David Lusee, who bad died suddenly on the previous day. The jury returned a verdict of " Death from, ■natural causes." An accident of a rather serious nature occurred to a seaman on the brigantine Seagull. It appears he wag engaged at the windlass landing grain, and when running back the tackle his hand was taken in the cogs, crushing off the third finger aud severely bruising the fourth. The man was immediately taken to Dr. Scott, who amputated the crushed finger and dressed the injured one. A serious accident, which narrowly escaped a fatal termination, occurred on January 14 at the railway workshops to a youth named John Power, son of Mrs. Power, boardinghouse keeper, Parnell. At about half-past five' o'clock, that morning Power, who was employed as a cleaner, was engaged taking tally of coal being placed on one of the engines. The engine was about to move out, but Power called to the driver to hold on, that the amount of coal was not marked down,' but the driver apparently did not hear him and went on. The result was that Power was crushed into a narrow space between the engine and the coal shed. His collar bone was broken, his right foot crushed, and his thigh lacerated. He was promptly attended by Dr. Kenderdine, and subsequently by Dr. Wright. A serious accident befel a man named Thomas Gavan on January 11 in Queenstreet. He was on horseback, and it appears that at the junction of Queen and Customhouse Streets he stopped to speak to some friend:, and while doing so a man named John Mills cams np and jumped on the horse behind Gavan. The horse objected to this arrangement, began to buckjump, and Mills at once got off. Two of Gavan's friends, however, caught hold of the horse's bridle, and began to pull the animal about, Gavan being still on its back. The upshot was that the horse reared up suddenly, and fell backwards on its rider. Gavan complained badly of his injuries, and was unable to move off the ground where he was thrown. Sergeant Clark, of the Water Police, got a cab and removed Gavan to the Hospital. A somewhat serious accident occurred on Jan. 16 in Parnell, opposite Mason's Gardens. A man named Alfred Richards was driving a young horse from Newmarket, in a buggybreak belonging to Mr. Crowther. It appears that the horse became restive, and in plunging, caused the shaft of the vehicle to break. The immediate consequence was that the horie bolted, and proceeded at full speed in the direction of Bishop's Court. When opposite Mr. Mason's gate the buggy heeled over, and Ritchie was pitched out on to the metal road, falling on his head. Some workmen in Mr. Mason's gardens proceeded to the spot, and raised the sufferer from the ground, but he was found to be insensible. Dr. Wright, who happened to be passing at the time, rendered what assistance was in his power. It waa found that Ritchie had sustained a severe scalp wound several inches in length, but luckily no fracture was caused by the severity of the fall. A daughter of Mr. John Sharp, nurseryman, Cambridge, aged 4 years, was drowned while bathing with her mother in the Pokaiwhenua Creek at Horahora, on Jan. 12. It appears Mrs. Sharp, with two other ladies, went to bathe ia a shallow corner of the creek. The little girl, on being stripped, ran into the creek unnoticed, and was carried away by the current. The mother endeaveured to rescue it, and in doing so nearly lost her own life. The pilot boat capsized at the Tauranga Heads on January 15. The Harbourmaster, Captain Best, had piloted out the steamer Suva, and his boat was coming off to the steamer manned by two men, when she capsized. The men were hauled on board the Suva by means of ropes. The boat sank, and has not been recovered. Early on the 19th January the landlord of the Clarendon Hotel, Wakefield-street, Mr. Bennett, informed the police authorities that one of his lodgers, Mr. William Bartleet Langbridge, advertising agent, had been found dead in his bedroom by the night waiter. Mr. Langbridge, it seems, had been indisposed during the week, and since the 17th Jan. had been under the medical treatment of Dr. Coomb. An inquest was convened for January 19, in order to admit of the burial taking place next day, and was adjourned. The adjourned inquest on the body was held on January 21, before Dr. Philson and a jury. Tho evidence, which was very lengthy, Went to show that the cause of death was " serous apoplexy, caused by excessive drinking." The post mortem examination ■howed that the internal organs were oxtensively diseased, and as Dr. Hooper ex pressed it, it was a wonder that deceased h »d lived 80 long in such a state of body, T!ie jury returned a verdict of '' Found dead, with evidence of serous apoplexy, caused by excensive drinking." Mr. Michael Lynch received a compound fracture of the arm at the King's Arms Hotel on the 20th January, by falling in a scuffle with a man named William Farrell. ■ A severe accident occurred to Lieutenant W. H. Potts, of the Thames Naval Brigade, on the 20th January. He and three others were proceeding in a boat to the Piako. When well on their voyage, Lieutenant Potts caught the barrel of a loaded fowling piece ying at the bottom of the boat, aud was iu the act of drawing it towards him when it went off, the charge lodging in his side. i A very peculiar accident occurred in Vic-toria-street East at about eleven o'clock on the 22nd January, under the following circumstances A fine young draught horse i attaohed to Mr. J. J. Holland's mortar cart i was being driven along Lorne-street by the I driver, W. Waring, and when opposite the 1 rear entrance of Boylan and Tantield's store, - the horse became startled, and swerved 1 against the kerb. This jerked Waring 1 off his seat. The horse, at this time Beyond all control, rushed across Victoria- i street East diagonially, aud the wheel t came with such great force against the i kerb on the north side that the arm of the ! axle wis snappy' >hort, and the wheel, I 'i berated from M.e wirr, made a few evolu- 1 .ions or jumpn ;o"l w«nt crushing through < the shop win- »"■ >1 -Mr. Dalton, tailor. The < srocrietor wa* at his desk, and the wheel 1

came within a few inches of his head. Making a swerve, the horse dragged the heavy cart on one wheel off the footpath and on again near Mr. ICoesiug's jeweller's shop, where,, narrowly escaping the window, the broken axle struck the brickwork supporting tho end of the window and carried away a portion of it. The vibration knocked down some watches and clocks, but no other .injury was caused. The horse was finally brought up nearly opposite the Bank of New Zealand. It is estimated that the total damage done is about £50. An inquest was held at the Kaihu Hotel, Dargaville, on Monday, January 21, before Mr. G, S. Webb, on the body of a gumdigger named James Morton, commonly kuown by the name of McQuester. tvidencc was given to show that the man had been drinking heavily of late, and that he appeared to be wrong in bis head. He was found in a creek dead with his throat cut. The jury returned a verdict to the effect that deceased committed suicide by cutting his throat whilst in an unsound Btate of mind. An accident, fortunately not fatal, occurred on the River Waitangi, about a mile below the Falls, on January IS. One of Irviug's boats, in charge of his man Hansen, aud carrying relatives of those who had gone with Irving in the Apt, should have followed in her wake. The Apt. with her full complement of passengers aud their luggage, safely, although not without some risk, made her passage, the weather being squally, the water rough. The other boat soon followed, and being lightly laden, was expected to overhaul the Apt, Her non-appearauce soon caused some uueasiuess. It appears that when off Charlie Williams', the boatman, a sudden squall caught the sail and the boat capsized ; its inmateß being Hanson, Christy, Irving'? boy, Mr. Walker, late of the Falls, and two boys, sons of Mr. Restell, late of Okaihau. They remained clinging to the boat for half an hour, when they w«re nobly rescuer by the old boatman, Charlie Williams. Some of those immersed could have swam the distance, but would not leave their fel-low-tufferers in peril, especially Reginald Restell, who being caught in the tackle, was several times immersed ; and with difficulty, kept above water by the exertions of Mr. Walker, whose noble dog kept careful watch on the sinking boy. Mrs. Williams kindly dried and warmed the three wet boya and restored annimation by hot tea. Excepting the loss of their effects, thsy are now none the worse for their ducking.

A sad accident occurred at Taakau on Jan. 22, by which a Bon of Mr. Sapwood's, named George, seven years of age, had a very narrow escape of his life. He, with his brother Alfred, Tom and John Collins, young men, sons of Mr. Collins, an old settler, was in the bush during the fierce wind which blew with hurricane force all day, when Tom Collins, hearing a crash, looked up and observed a limb of a tree about to fall. He mstantly shouted, " Look out, George." The poor child, who was standing on a log under the tree, immediately stepped forward preparatory to a jump, which action saved his life, but not bis hindmost leg, which was caught by the falling limb, aud fractured below the knee. An accident occurred on the 19th January at the Onehunga races to Mr. Seymour T. George, M.H.R., through the explosion of a gun used in a shooting gallery. The top of the forefinger was shattpreci and there arc two nasty gashes on the ball aud palm of the hand close to the thumb. Dr. Walker fortunately was on the ground and at once bandaged up the wouuded hand. Our Hokianga correspondent writes, on the 21st Jan., that a young man named Gubbins, who is employed at the Hokianga Sawmill Company's mill, was last week severely injured by a heavy piece ot timber striking him on the breast, and fracturing the breast bone. He was immediately attended to by Dr. Graham, and is now progressing favourably. On January 23 a man named Michael Hogan, a carter, fell off his dray in Buckland's saleyard, and broke one of his wrists. On January 22 Harry Morgan, steward on board the «.s. Waihora, was received into the Hospital in consequeuce of having broken the cap of one of his knees. The accident is a severe one, and is likely to keep him confined for many months to come. Our Thames correspondent, telegraphing on Jan.22, states :—"Thomas Rawdon, Foreman of Works, was found dead in his office this morning. He had been in a weak state of health for some time, having had two slight paralytic strokes within the last year. He retorned from Te Aroha yesterday, whither he bad bsen for the benefit of the hot springs." Mr. Rawdon was one of the oldest and best known identities of the Thames goldfield. He arrived at the Thames shortly after the opening of the goldfield in the end of 1567, and since then has been closely identified with its rise, progress, and decline. In his sphere there were few men more respected or esteemed than Thomas Rawdon, and by his death many lose a sincere and earnest friend. An accident happened on Jan. 16, to a settler residing at Waipipi, named P. Keogh. When returning to his home from Waiuku, he fell off his horse and broke or dislocated his shoulder. The next day he waß taken to Auckland for medical treatment.

An accident occurred on the 19th January, te another resident of Waipipi, Mr. Ogilvic. He was driving in his buggy, the night being dark, and drove against an embankment upsetting his buggy, which turned over completely on him. Fortunately some natives happened to be going a'.ong the road and extricated him from his perilous position. Mr. Ogilvic also fractured his collar-bone, and was taken to Auckland. On January 20 an accident took place to Mr. Games, Waiuku. When jumping out of a buggy, he slipped and fell on his hand, completely dislocating his wrist. Dr. Dilziel attended to him, and he is now in a fair way of recovery. On January 21 a lad, the son of Mr. G. Morley, was driving a team of horses with a heavy load of metal. The lad fell off' the dray, the wheel going over both his feet, completely tearing the boots to pieces, aud crushing his feet. On January 24 Miss Kin? was out riding on horseback at Waiuku. The saddle girths became loose, when the saddle slipped round, and she fell heavily on lier hip, dislocating it. Dr. Dalziel was immediately sent for, and with his usual promptitude was soon in attendance. On the 25th January a horse attached to a spring trap was tied opposite the store of Messrs, Watts and Game's, when tlio winkers came off. The horse took fright, and bolted up the hill towards the Wetli\a i Church, but suddenly tnrned, he came back with great speed, anil came in contact with a willow tree, leaving the two wheels and springs, with the axle broken in two. The horse became detached from the trap, and was caught about a chain lower down the street. The horse received no injury, but the trap and harness suffered severely. A sad accident occurred ou January 30 at Shelly Beach, Ponsonby, by which a fine little boy, John Herbert Mason, aged 11 years, the son of Mr. John Mason, hairdresser, of Duke-street, Ponsonby, lost his life by drowning. It appears that young Mason waa about four o'clock p.m. down on Shelly Beach, at the reef, with some boys of his own age, for a stroll. The hat of a hoy named Humbys blew off into the water, and was drifting out. Young Mason, who could swim a little, went in for it, but was unable to get back to the reef, sinking in the presence of his young companions, who could do nothing to rescue him, as none of them could swim. An inquest was held at Onehunga on the 28th January on the body of the person found dead in the Manukau Harbour on January 25, aud identified as Frederick Dunkley. The evidence adduced could throw no light as to the manner of death, and a verdict of " Found Dead" was returned. Mr. T. Morrin, who arrived at Morrinsville on Jan. 26, while walking over the Lockerby Estate next day, fell in crossing a wire fence and severely tprainedouo of hia ankles. The joint was much swollen, but Mr. Morrin proceeded to Cambridge on Jan. 2S, determining to proceed on to the lakes with some friends from Auckland, who accompanied him here, if his foot would allow him. The 8.8. Coromandel brought to town on the 26th January a seaman named Charles Hollaoi, belonging to the cutter Esk, lying at Muddy Bay. It appears he was aloft greasing the mast, when he missed his hold, falling a distance of sixteen feet, dislocating his ancle. Fortunately for him the steamer was just coming by at the time, enabling him to be at once conveyed on board and brought to the Hospital for treatment. A Coroner's inquest was held on Jan. 24 at Gleeson's Hotel, by Dr. Philson (Coroner) and jury, on the body of George Logan, a steerage passenger by the Hauroto, from Sydney, who died of delirium tremens on the voyage across. The jury, after hearing the evidence, returned a verdict to the effect that deceased died from the effects of excessive drinking. His luggage was labelled "George Logan, Blues kin, Otago,"

"Sydney Jim." a bushman working on tho hill, Waiorongomai, was killed on the 28th January, by a log rolling over him. He died almost instantaneously. At the inquest lon the body, a verdict of " Accidental Death " was recorded. The funeral was largely attended. Captain John Bruce, of the Lancashire Las«, who received a severe injury on January 2S, expired on January 31. He waa engaged in the discharge of his vessed when he received the hurt, and wsis taken to the Hospital. An operation -was performed, and from the effect* of this he never rallied. Mr. Graham, of the Waitoa Store, Te Aroha, had his arm broken on January '28 in crossing m the Te Aroha punt. The horse he was riding sprang forward before the punt was alongside, and caused the rider to fall. The fracture, which was not a severe one, was soon set by Dr. Coo per.