ACCIDENTS, ETC.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8163, 27 January 1890, Page 2 (Supplement)

ACCIDENTS, ETC.

Thk dead body of a man named John Owen Daley was found on tho beach near Calliope Dock on tho 11th January. Tho deceased, who was a single man, lived at Devonport with Captain Thompson, in Beacli Road, and between 10 and 11 a.m. on tho 10th January ho left his homo, taking a " billy" with him, and said he intended to go off in a dingy to bale out his yacht, which was lying opposite the Recreation Ground. Deceased's watch, a largo gold lover, was in his pocket, and had stopped at two minutes past 1 o'clock—whether in the day or the night cannot bo determined. Sergt. McGrath was informed of the discovery, and the body was taken by him to the Flagstaff Hotel. Ho afterwards found the dingy high and dry, about SO yards from the spot where the deceased's remains were lying. The oars were secured at the ends under the seats, and tho painter rolled up, as if it had not been used, whilst the billy wiw also in the boat. An inquest was held on the 1 lth January at tho Flagstaff Hotel, before Colonel J.P. A verdict of "Accidental drowning" was returned. The deceased was 36 years old, and a native of Manchester. He was a solicitor by profession, but was possessed of means and did not practise. Mr. Daley arrived in the colony nine years ago from Manchester. An inquest was held on the 6th January at tho house of Mrs. Plummet*, Elizabethstreet, Ponsonby, on tho body of a child, Ruby Morgan, who died between 12 and 1 p.m. on tho sth January. Dr. I'hilson acted as coroner, and Mr. James Maxwell was chosen foreman of the jury. Evidence was taken from Dr. Knight ami from Mrs. Plummet', with whom tho child and her mother had boon lodging. The evidence showed that the deceased, who was a robust child of six months of age, was token ill with diarrhoea about a week ago, but no doctor had been summoned until 12 o'clock on Jan. 5, when Dr. Knight was sent for, but he arrived shortly after tho child hail expired. The jury, alter some deliberation, returned a' verdict of "Died from natural causes." A prisoner named Frank Bartholomew died on January 5 at Mount Eden Goal from injuries which he sustained at Fort Cautley on January 2. He fell into tho pit of tho No. 1 gun, and striking heavily on his head he sustained concussion of the brain. He was removed to Mount Eden Gaol on the following day, and lias since been under medical treatment, but ho never recovered consciousness. An inquest upon the remains was held on the oth January at the prison, before Mr. R. C. Barstow, coroner. The evidence of Warder Diunison, a prisoner named Hamilton," others was heard, and a verdict of "Accidental Death"' was returned. Information came to hand on January 11, from Mr. Dacre, of Whangaparaoa, that a large portion of a yacht had been cast ashore on the beach there during the past week. The wreckage, which was identified as that of the four-ton yacht Truant, consisted of almost the whole of one side of the boat intact, and has evidently been washed ashore during some of the recent heavy weather. It will be remembered that the yacht Truant was lost on Boxing Day, ISS7, in a squall, off Gull Point, and of her six occupants, Messrs George Harker and Alfred Bankart only succeeded in getting ashore, Messrs. 11. Bankurt, R. J. Debney, Hammond, and Armstrong being drowned, after u struggle in the heavy sea which was prevailing on the day. Two patients at the Lunatic Asylum are reported as dead. The first, John Watts, painter, of Nelson-street, who was admitted recently sußering from religious mania ; and Charles Nicol, from Kerikori, suffering from epilepsy and mania. Coroner's inquests were held on January S, and a verdict of " Death from natural causes" returned in each case.

An inquest was held on January 16 at the Asylum, by Dr. I'hilson, coroner, on the body of Jane Hinding, a patient. After hearing the evidence, the jury returned a verdict of " Death from natural causes."

Our Waipiro( correspondent thus writes : —A rather remarkable accident occurred in the vicinity of the Waipiro home station last week. It appears that a Mrs. Sadler, a native woman, was leading a horse by a tether rope, when tho horse bolted, and tiio rope becoming entangled round her forefinger literally tore it oil' at the middle joint. She wrapped her handkerchief round the terribly lacerated member and walked to tho local dispensary, when, the finger having been dressed, she proceeded home and cooked her husband's supper as usual. Captain Conway, of the scow Totara, arrived at the Thames about 6.30 on Friday evening, the 10th January, and reported the loss of a seaman named William McHugh, by falling overboard the previous night whilst botween's Brown's Island and Motuihi. It appears the scow left the intake at Mechanic's Buy at 9.30 p.m. on January 9, and about an hour afterwards the accident occurred. Captain Conway was below at the time, but a seaman named Charles Madigan, who was on deck, at once called him, and together they launched a small boat, in which tho latter proceeded to the spot where McHugh was last seen, but nothing could be seen of him. Deceased was 27 years of age, and was son of Captain McHugh, of Fat-noil. On Jan. a punt put off to thes.s. Kinafrom Tikinui with Mr. A. D. Meade, a dairyman, on board, to communicate with the steamer, bub missing his distance it came broadside on to the steamer's head as she lay awaiting his approach, and the result was thut the boat was completely smashed and the occupant thrown in the water, when lie drifted away with the strong ebb tide running. The steamer's boat was immediately lowered from the davits, with two hands in her who pulled off within half a minute of the accident to the rescue. Meade, although fully clothed, und with heavy boots on, jusi.- managed to keep himself afloat until the boat readied him, but was very much exhausted, and but for the promptness displayed could not have held out) much longer. An inquest was held on January 9 at the Mangawui Hotel, Mr. W. B. Farrand, J.P., acting as coroner, and a jury of twelve, of whom Mr. James Kerr was chosen foreman. The inquest was on the remains of John Hardwick, a lad of 9 or 10 years old, who was drowned on November 3rd, 1889, from the barge Waipu, lying at anchor in Mangawai River. He was pulling tho boat alongside the scow when he was dragged over by the painter. One of the crew immediately jumped overboard, bub in consequence of a strong ebb tide could nob retain hold of the boy, and was himself nearly drowned. The verdict was "Accidentally drowned." On January 1, as the boat of the barquo Peru was proceeding from theGisborne shore, the chief officer, Alex. Tytler fell overboard head first and was never seen again. The body was washed up on the beach on 7th January. Deceased was a married man with a family, 52 years of age, and a native of Aberdeen.

Our Te Kopuru correspondent writes :— An inquest was held at Dargaville on December 30, before Mr. T. Webb, coroner, on the body of a gumdigger named Richard Rod well, alias Dirty Dick. Michael Murphy, gumdigger, deposed that deceased came to him at the camp at Maitai, suffering from the effects of drink, and asked witness to take care of him, which witness did. On Saturday morning, 28th December, witness went to deceased's bunk to take him a drink of tea, and found him dead. The features were natural, and the bedclothes on the body. There had been no row at the camp. Deceased was of very intemperate habits. All in the camp had been having a Christmas spree. Alfred King and Cnarles Hawkins gave corroborative evidence. The jury returned a verdict to the effect that deceased died through the effects of excessive drinking. .

A boy named Macey, seven years old, fell into the water off the steamer's wharf at Lyttelton on January 9. A sailor on H.M.s. Opal, named Henry Watt, jumped in and escu ed him. He Kept the boy afloat till obli were hauled on board by a rope.

On the 12th January a little girl who was playing on the jetty at the lake at Hamilton, slipped and fell into the water. Mr. Collier, of the Telegraph Department, who was close at hand, at once jumped in and rescued the child from her dangerous position. A sad affair has occurred at Otorohanga, which has caused groat excitement amongst the natives. Some time ago a native woman named Mita left Otorohanga on a vhdb to another settlement, and must have returned to her whare unknown to her people, for on the 4th January her body, or rather what was left of it, was' found on the track between tho whare and the well, with most of the flesh stripped off by tho pigs. To all appearances she had been going to the well for water, and had been taken with a fit of heart disease, for the buckets were found lying on the track beside her remains, and alio had been dead some time, because there was considerable smell from them when found.

An accident occurred at Matokohe on 26th December to Anthony Andersen, who is thirteen years of age, through a horse falling and rolling on him, thereby breaking the large bone of his left arm and the small one of his right arni, and bruising him very much about the face and body.

A. gumdigger named Lormer was drowned on the 27th December a f - Aratapu, while under the influence of liquor. His body has not been found, though search was made.

Our Marerctu correspondent writes : — sad and fatal accident occurred here on January 11, by which Mrs. Ernesto (wife of Mr. John De Ernoste., one of the homestead settlers of Mareretu), was accidentally killed by a tree which she was assisting her husband in foiling. Death was instantaneous, tho skull being completely smashed in. An inquest was held noxb morning beforo the local coroner, Mr. W. W. Arioll, J.P., when the jury returned a verdict of " Accidental death."

A coroner's iuquost was held at Waiuku on the 14th January on the body of Patrick McNamara, who (lied somewhat suddenly on the morning of the previous day. After hearing tho evidence, tho following verdict was brought in: "The jury are of opinion that the deceased, Patrick McNamara, came to his death on Monday, the 13th day of January, 1890, from peritonitis."

A minor named Thomas Kerr, who had lately been discharged from tho Crown mine", Karangahake, with other workmen, took passage on board the steamer Enterprise from the Thames for Auckland, on the 18th January, and which arrived at Auckland shortly after midnight. Kerr has not since been seen, ami it is feared lie must have fallen overboard the Enterprise on the passugo. A lad (William Edward Ward Grice) was accidentally drowned in the Turanganui river, Gisborne, whilst bathing alone, on January 19. A boat accident occurred at Mimiha, Whangaruru, on Jan. 12, by which young Mr. Williams was drowned. Mr. Williams, senior, is not long from England, and is the owner of tho Owai Hotel.

An accident occurred at Maungakaramea by which a child of John Wright was killed by falling off a cart. A fatal accident happened to a child of Mr. 0. Glentworth, of Eltlmtn, on Friday, 17th January. It appears that tho child fell into a tub of water, and was drowned. At Gisborne on January 23 a sad accident happened to the Rev. John McAra, Presbyterian minister. He was driving with his little girl in a buggy, when the horru was startled, and becatno unmanageable. The carriago swerved and capsized, and the rev. gentleman with tho girl were thrown out on the road. .Mr. McAra roceived a fractured skull and his collar bono was broken. The child was not severely injured. Mr. McAra has not yot regained consciousness. His body is partly paralysed. There is little hope of recovery. On the 24th December a man was found unconscious in a stable of tho Ashley Rank Hotel, at Ashley. Every caro was taken, but ho died next day. For some time tho police were unable to identify him, but it now transpires that his name is John Tanner, a baker, and that he was formerly in tho employ of Mr. W. Thompson, of Christchurch.

A little boy, seven years old, was killed at Dunedin by a tramway in the north end on the Uth January. The boy was in tho act of crossing King-street to join his father, a baker, who was standing with his cart on tho opposite side, when the car knocked the boy down, and ran over him and killed him. The driver called out when he saw him, but too late. The whole occurrence took place in view of the father, who was unable to do anything, lie absolves everyone from blame in the matter.

James Murdoch, qtmrryman, fell over a dill' a distance of 40 toot, while firing a blast at the Dunedin Heads on January 7. He is not expected to live. On .January 1 a man named Caldwell, agent for the Australian Mutual Provident Association, was killed by being thrown out of a trap while driving from Christchurch to Kaiapoi. At the Greymouth races on Wednesday, tho Ist January, a sad accident occurred, resulting in the death of a jockey named Edward Dodds. He was filling Patrician in tho Grey Valley Stakes when tho horse fell at a soft place and rolled over the rider, who sustained injuries from which he shortly afterwards died. In the following race another horse came down in the same place, but the jockey escaped uninjured. Charles White, while bush falling on January 3, near Stratford, had a tree fall on him, injuring his spine. Ho was brought into the Hospital that night with his lower limbs paralysed. A man named Thomas Powell was killed on the Oamaru railway line near Pukeuri on January 1. The body was found lying close to the railway line, with the head cut off. % A train had passed along the line, but the driver said he did not see anything on the line as he passed. The body was found on a road-line that crossed the railway, and it is possible that on account of the cattle stops it would be.difficult for any one to bo seen. Tho deceased was seen walking along the road near the railway line in the afternoon. He had formerly been in Wellington. An inquest was . held, and a verdict of " Accidental death " was roturned.

A man named Fletcher was killed at Dunedin on Dec. 31 by being pushed by a borne and falling against a kerbstone, striking tho back of his head. He died before medical assistance was obtained.

A human foot in a boot was found on the beach f two miles south of Timaru, on Jan. 12. Ibis supposed to belong to Platelayer Clarke, who disappeared from Makikihi a few icon atro.

Am;.n named E. W.Anderson, employed at Kortegast's brewery, Hokitika, was engaged running off a brew, and as it did nob run freely he went to the vat. Ffteen minutes afterward he was found lying at the bottom of the vat. The efforts at first made to get him out were unsuccessful, owing to tho stupefying effects of the fumes. VVhen finally he was brought out, he was found to be quite dead. Two other men who were trying to rescue him nearly succumbed. A serious accident happened to a man named G. W. Blackburn, at the Perseverance Claim, Waikakaho, near Blenheim, on Tuesday, January 21. Ho was engaged with three other men >it the windlass of tho pumping gear, when the rope broke, and struck Blackburn on the shoulder. He became unconscious, and on recovery he was brought into Blenheim, where he resides, a distance of 18 miles. It is believed that he is injured internally. A sad and fatal accident occurred to a little boy named Alfred Skinner, a son of Mr. Skinner, of Huntly. He was with others in a boat on the river on the evening of New Year's Day, when by some accident he fell overboard and was drowned. At the inquest on the body, which was recovered on Saturday last, a verdict of "Accidentally drowned" was returned.

Inspector McGovern having arranged for an inquest to be held on the three natives poisoned in consequence of eating wild honey st Rawhiti, the same was held before Mr. E. Ford, J. P., at Parckura. a native settlement at Rawhiti, on December 30. A mixed jury of three Europeans and three natives were empannelled, namely, Messrs. VV. Hill, G. Akers, and J. Brown, Waipuna, Taurau, and Sidney Katenje. The Rev. R. Burrows, who had accompanied the party, kindly allowed himself to be sworn in as interpreter. The three deceased were Tepeneuia, who had been a powerful built man; Kiri Tckahia (female); Ti Amari Warena (female). After evidence had been Riven, the verdict was: "The jury find that the three natives came by their death through eating honey containing poison, which they considered was obtained by the bees from the poisonous swamp plant whauriki," and, as a rider, added that " The Government should take steps to have some of the honey analysed for the satisfaction of the jury and the public."

InfoJuation has reached Dunedin that was accidentally killed near Wedderburn. He was traveller for Thomson and Co., aerated water manufacturers, and leaves a widow and a family of seven grown up. Three young men were cruising about the Wellington Harbour in a half-deck sailing boat on Jan. 12, and when off Evans' Bay a fierce squall struck her, and she capsized. Herbert Mitchell, aged 21, employed in the Government Printing Office, was drowned, and his two mates were rescued by a boat from the shore in a very exhausted condition. Deceased was a splendid swimmer, but elected to stick to the boat, which sank in a few minutes. The other two lads clung to an oar till succour arrived. The adjourned inquest at Nelson on Mrs. Eliza Goss, who was found insensible in her own house, on the morning of December 27, and who died the same evening terminated on Friday, the 10tn January. The jury returned a verdict that " Death was caused by apoplexy," and in their opinion accelerated by the brutal usage and illtreatment she was subjected to by her husband. The celebrations at Wellington on Wednesday, January 22, were marred by a distressing accident, which resulted in the death of Mr. Kebbell, sen., a well-known Wellington resident. Ho is the owner of the yacht Florence, which was engaged in the principal race, and was on board steering her. He stood up, and by some means lost his balance. The ropes slipped through his hands, and he fell overboard. Means were at once taken to rescue him, and he was dragged out of the water after two or three minutes' immersion, but all efforts to revive animation were futile. He does not appear to have been in the water any length of time, and he could swim, so that death would appear to be the result of the shock rather than 0* drowning. Deceased was an elderly man. To make matters worse, the news had only just been received by his son-in-law, Mr. Brandon, of the deaths, by drowning also, of two of Mr. Kebbell's grandchildren that morning. John Fortune, a mineratOrepuki, Otago, was killed by a full in his claim. His mate, Butler, who was standing alongside, escaped uninjured as by a miracle. A ooy named Timothy Horgan, aged ten, was killed on Dec. .'SO at Tai Tapu, Canterbury, by the capsizing of a trap. Donald and Charles Cameron, Masterton, when driving home late on the 18th January from their contract in a brake, went over a steep siding at Mungapukeha. Both were injured, and wero brought to Masterton Hospital, where Donald died on January 19. Mr. H. B. Vogel, solicitor, eldest son of Sir Julius, met with a curious accident at Wellington on the 18th January. He was playing tennis, and jumped over the net and fell. He noticed nothing wrong at the time, but in the evening, when dining out, he was suddenly taken ill with intenso internal pains. Medical assistance was obtained, when it was discovered lie had broken a rib, which had penetrated the kidney, causing rupture of that organ.