ACCIDENTS, ETC.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8669, 11 September 1891, Page 1 (Supplement)

ACCIDENTS, ETC.

BOATING FATALITY.—THREE LIVES LOST. Our Opotiki correspondent gives the following particulars of this fatal accident• A sad boating accident occurred on the bar at about noon on August 15, resulting in the drowning of Mr. Frank Hudson and Charles and Albert Hopkins, two young . sons of Captain Hopkins, of the s.s. Chelmsford. It appears that the above named and two sons of Mr. Rawson went out in a small boat over the bar that morning to fish, and that in returning the boat was caught by a sea and capsized. The accident was witnessed from the shore by Mr. Maurice McCarthy, and he told a native . who happened to pass on horseback. The native galloped into town, and-, Mr. James White, of Messrs. Abbot and White, at once started off by himself in a dingy to the rescue, followed by other boats with Constable O'Reilly and several moro. Mr. White states that ho got up to the capsized boat, and found ono of the Rawsons arid one young Hopkins clinging to it. There was no sign of the rest. Mr. White succeeded in the difficult job of getting Mr. Rawson into his boat, and was just making for young Hopkins, who was at tho other end holding on to the steer oar, when he saw him let go his hold and sink. The other Mr. Rawson was saved by two natives who swam off from shore and brought him in. The Rawson's were speedily brought up to town in boats, and willing hands carried them to the Opotiki Hotel, where they were pub to bed. Dr. Reid was soon in attendance, and ib is hoped that they will be none tho worse for their long immersion. The accident caused great excitement in tho township. Mr. Hudson was a young man greatly esteemed by all who knew him, and very many will deplore his loss. Great sympathy is felt) for Captain and Mrs. Hopkins in the loss of their two fine boys. Every credit is due to Mr. White for his prompt action in going singlehanded in a small boat over the bar ana successfully accomplishing the difficult feat in a seaway of taking a half-drowned person off the keel of a boat. The natives also jwho swam off and rescued the other Mr. Kawson did a plucky thing, as ho was much exhausted and entangled in the boat's gear. ■ Charles Hopkins was aged 15, and his brother Alberb only 13; Frank Hudson is a young man of about 25; while the two Rawsons were youths of aboub 18 and 20. It is thought extremely . improbable that) any of the bodies of those drowned will bo recovered. Very general sympathy was expressed in Auckland shipping circles on Augusb 15th and lGth for, Captain Hopkins' sad bereavement, and on Augusb 17 the flags of . the Northern Steamship Company's fleet, as well as of other coasting vessels, in port, were, flying half-mast). A representative meeting of clergy and , chairmen of local bodies was hold at Opotiki on Sepb, 2 to consider the best method of testifying the public appreciation of the brave conduct of Mr. James White in going to. the rescue on the occasion of the lata boating accidenb. A committee was appointed to report tho matter to tho Royal Humane Society, and to canvass the district for a testimonial. Tho natives who went? to the rescue will also bo rewarded. TS ' * V.: :.■' '• ,»I>V\ /■ .i | SSI s v teiit

A FOOTBALLER KILLED. . ■ Amoatcliatresaingoccurrcnce took placeafc Epsom on Saturday, Sept. 5, in that Mr. Thomas Sibbiu, while playing football, met with an accident which caused his death. The game was near its conclusion, and Mr. Sibbin, who had been playing very well throughout, ran backward to stop a descending ball with his head or shoulders. In the endeavour to do this he was 'oaring as far back as he could, and while in this position, collided with another player named Hough, who was in a stooping attitude behind him. With the impetus ho had on, Sibbin fell backwards . over the 'other's back and tumbled on to the ground on his neck. The accident as observed, but nothing serious was apprebonded, as the " spill " was apparently a simple one, and the fall not heavy. As Sibbin did not move, however, several players and onlookers went to his aid, and on a friend of Air. Sibbin's, Mr. AN. R. Goudie, asking him what was the matter, he said, "I think I am badly hurt about the neck," almost immediately relapsing into unconsciousness. With as little delay as possible a cab was procured, and Mr. Sibbin conveyed to the Hospital. Ho did not recover consciousness on the journey; and though Dr. Girdlor and tho house surgeon, Dr. Somerville, did all that their skill could suggest tho suffever rfever regained his senses, and died without speaking about six p.m.,, an hour and a-quarter after the accident had happened, the immediate cause of death being the rupture of a blood vessel through physical violence. Mr. Thomas M. Sibbin was well known and deservedly popular in all athletic circles, and excelled in most varieties of manly games. Ho was a good runner, and won numerous prizes at the Amateur Athletic Club's meetings some few years ago. Ho was a printer by trade, a member of the firm of Messrs. Sibbin and Brown, of Albert-street, and was tho second sou of Mr. George Sibbin of tho North Shore, being 31 years of age. Ho had been married for several years to Miss Laurence, and had resided with his wife and threo children, the eldest of whom is about fivo years of age, at the North Shore. He held high office in tho Ancient Order of Foresters. An inquest upon Mr. Sibbin's remains was held on September 7 at tho Hospital by Dr. Fliilson, coroner, and a jury of six. Tho evidence given corroborated tho above account, and the jury returned the following verdict: — " That Thomas George Sibbin met his death while playing football in Potter's Paddock, the occurrence being purely accidental, and that no blame ateaches to Albert Hough, who, on the contrary, is to bo commended for the fair and manly way in which ho played." Tho funeral took place on tho atternoon of September S, nt Devonport, and was .■Attended by over 450 persons on foot, while several vehicles and horsemen were also in attendance.

Wo received a telegram on August 10 from our Paeroa correspondent stating that a terrible accident had befallen Jin James Tegart, one of tho Cassel Company's stall, last; evening, at the Cassel Reduction Works, Ivarangahake, by which he met with his death. Mr. Tegart was engaged in testing a large vat of cyanide of potassium, when he overbalanced and fell headforemost into it. A splash was heard, and the unfortunate man was pulled oat almost immediately, but ho was unconscious, and died shortly afterwards. Mr. Tegart was a valued servant of the company, and his three years' engagement was nearly up when, it is stated, he intended to return to Scotland, although to some friends in Auckland he had expressed an intention of remaining in the colony. Deceased leaves a widow to mourn his loss. An inquest was held on August 20, whs the jury returned a verdict of " Accidental death by poisoning." Our Hiintly correspondent writes Miss Lily Carter, aged 17, a cousin of Mrs. M. Friar, mysteriously disappeared from the latter's residence about seven p.m. on Saturday, August 15. She had been staying there for some time, and on the evening in question she left the house in her usual house dress, without a hat, and wearing a pair of slippers, and has not since been heard of. Search was at once made by Constable White, Mr. Friar, and a neighbour until about three o'clock next morning. Strict enquiries were made by them at the houses of neighbours where the girl was known, and the banks of the river" were also carefully searched, but no footmarks or other indications were discovered. During the whole of August 10 search parties were out in all directions, a steam launch and several boats and canoes were engaged dragging the river for a considerable distance, and horsemen were dispatched along the Great South Road as far as Mercer, and also in the direction of Hamilton, but no news of the missing girl was obtained. It is difficult to account for the girl having fallen accidentally into the river, as Mr. Friar's "allotment is fenced in, and the water is supplied to the house by means of a pump and tanks. The unfortunate occurrence has cast a gloom over the place, as Miss Carter was a member )f the church choir, and was universally respected. On the 17th August a man named Patrick Dougherty, a gumdigger, narrowly escaped a horrible death on the Kaipara railway. As the train was near Kanolii, and in the act of lounding a bend, the man was seen lying beside the line with his head on the rail. TLo engine driver blew the danger whistle, down brakes, and shut off steam, but it was of no avail, the cowcatcher striking him on tho head, and throwing him off the line. The train was stopped, and the injured man picked up and taken to the next station. Constable O'Brien brought Dougherty down by the afternoon train to town, and took him to the District Hospital, the ambulance van being at the Mount Eden station in readiness for tho patient. At Helensville, Dr. Gault stitched the wound on the head which Dougherty had sustained, and his injuries were further attended to at the Hospital. He subsequently so far recovered as to be enabled to leave the institution. On Saturday, Augu3t 22, about five p.m., U Mr. William Woolley, residing in Melton Avenue, Mount Eden, had a narrow escape of being shot, apparently through the firing going on at tho Rifle Range, Mount Eden. He was going up tho Avenue, and near the residence of Mr. T. Thompson, M.H.R., when he was struck in the left shoulder by a spent ricochet rifle bullet. The bullet was almost spent, otherwise he would probably have been killed. As it was the impact of the bullet made him stagger, and his shoulder was stiff and sore in conscience. Our Thames correspondent telegraphed on August 23 " Richard Smythetrian, an old settler here, was found dead in hi? dwellinghouse, in Richmond-street, to-day. Deceased was about 65 years of age, a widower, residing by himself, and a carpenter by trade. He was last seen alive about seven p.m. last evening by his daughter-in-law, Mrs. T. Smytheman, and was then in his usual health. On his son, T. Smytheman, visiting the house at eleven a.m. to-day he found deceased lying dead on the bedroom floor. He was undressed. Dr. Callan was called in at once, who pronounced life extinct. Deceased had been complaining of pains in his stomach of late, bub attributed it to indigestion, but had no medical aid." An inquest on the remains resulted in a verdict of death from heart disease. A lad, six years of age, named Donnelly, whoso parents reside in Ilapo Creek, Thames, had the whole of his left hand blown off from the wrist with tho exception of tho little finger on August 27. It appears that the lad's father had somo detonating caps in the house, but thought that they wero in a perfectly secure place. The little fellow, however, managed to discover their hiding place, and taking one from amongst a number commenced pricking it with a pin for the purpose of making it go off. After a little while the cap suddenly exploded, completely shattering tho hand, only a small portion of which, the little linger, being left. The flesh and sinews about the wrist were also terribly, torn, while the face was slightly cut in two or three places, and the lips were much swollen as a result of the explosion. The poor little sufferer was immediately taken to tho hospital, where his injuries were attended to by Dr. Williams, who has ' every hopes of saving the only remaining finger. A little girl was nearly drowned at Napier on August 26, but was pluckily rescued by a boy of about eight years of : age, at great risk to himself. ■ °On August 21 Edward Downing, aged 14, was killed at Sydenham, a suburb of Christchurch, by a ; stack of timber, blown over by a heavy south-westerly gust, falling on him, Tho boy never spoke, but died a few minutes after the accident.

1 . Constable Moar, of.Mangonui, lias forwarded a report to Inspector Broham concerning the death through exhaustion and exposure of a halT-casto Maori named Ihako, who died under somewhat singular circumstances at Te Kao river, North Cape, on the 13th August. Along with two men, Shannon and Blaine, he was engaged in transporting cum from the premises of Mr. P. Slaine, storekeeper, down the river to the s.s. Staffa. One of the punts was capsized, and the other blown on to a sandbank. Ilmka and his mate, a Maori, were ottered £2 to recover the gum, and agreed to do so. They lowered the boat- of the steamer and recovered the gum, bub owing to the wind and sea could not reach the Staffa, and after becoming exhausted gave up the attempt and were blown ashore. As the steamer had no boat no aid could be rendered, and night closing in nothing could be done till daylight. Next morning a raft was made on tho Staffa, and some of tho crew floated ashore on it to ascertain tho fate of the half-caste and his mate. The Maori was found sitting in an exhausted state on the rocks, and Inaka lying in the boat dead, from the cold and exposure. Step? were taken to remove the Maori to the steamer, where ho was kindly treated and soon recovered. Ihaka was buried at the native settlement to which he belonged. Particulars have been received by the police authorities from Constable Donovan, of Coromandel, relative to the drowning at Port Charles of James Hamilton,. 'gumdigger. It appears that Hamilton and his mate, Thomas Gillebrand, were pursuing their avocation as gumdiggers at Sandy Bay. On tho 17th August they started to travel with provisions along the beach line from Sandy Bay to Stoney Bay. Gillebrand stopped to get a drink, his mate travelling on. After having a drink Gillebrand pushed on to overtake Hamilton, but could find no trace of him. Upon reaching the camp lie ascertained that Hamilton had never arrived. The weather was very rough, and he came to the conclusion that Hamilton in going round the rocks had fallen off and got drowned. On the following morning- Gillebrand, with a search party, went in quest of the missing man, and they found Hamilton's dead body on tho beach. Owing to the isolated locality in which the body was found there was no inquest held. Constable Donovan went up and arranged for the funeral, besides taking charge of deceased's effects. The deceased is said to have relatives at the Thames.

A somewhat serious accident happened at Onehunga at midnight 011 August 23 to a man, named Robert Austin, who with others was engaged driving a number of store cattle for shipment per Gairloch to New Plymouth. When near tho wharf, Austin rode ahead of his mates, having occasion to go off the road, when his horse stepped into a drain, which brought him down, fracturing Austin's leg in the fall. Dr. Erson was sent for, and on arrival set the injured limb. At an early hour on the 3rd September a lad named GeorgePowley met with an accident while minding a cab, until the driver could secure lodgings for two passengers. The horses tock fright in some way or other, and the boy got knocked down, one of the wheels passing over his arm and fracturing it. He was taken to the Hospital. While attending a sausage-machine on Thursday, the 3rd of September, Mr. Garrett, the well-known butcher, met with a nasty accident—his hand being caught by the machine, and the third linger taken off from the socket. He went to the Hospital, and his injuries were attended to, after which he returned to his home.

A gumdigger, named Gousson, met with an accident on Sept. 3 in the \\ aitakerei Ranges. He fell from a tree and broke his leg, and was brought to the District Hospital for treatment. A girl, named Emma Jensen, an inmate of St. Catherine's Home, Christchurch, was found dead in bed on the 30th August. A post mortem examination showed death to have been caused by heart disease. Donald Robinson died at Dunedin on the 31st August from injuries through falling off a scaffolding at Montapetier. Deceased was 23 years of age. lie was a painter, and fell a distance of 20 feet. A shocking fatal accident occurred on August 20 to a 'little daughter of Mr. G. Lock, Nelson. The father has a hothouse in which he is forcing-cucumbers, and he had been attending to the furnace fire, his little I toddler being behind him. lie left the ! furnace for two or three minutes, and in the meantime the child fell into the furnace. On being pulled out she was fearfully burnt, presenting a shocking sight. The child died shortly after. A child eighteen months' old, the daughter of a locomotive engineer named Travers, is missing from Napier. It was last seen on the beach on Tuesday afternoon, August 25. There is little dcubt it is drowned, though the body has not yet been recovered. . The body of a man named R. Mathieson, a farmer residing near Marton, was found floating in the Wellington harbour oil" the Thorndon esplanade on Aug. 26. Deceased was about 45 years of age, and has been in town interviewing the Commissioner of Crown Lands re titles to land, and as he had correspondence of the previous day's date in his pocket, he could have only gob in that night, but nothing is known how. A shocking accident occurred at Christchurch on Saturday morning, August 22. A. horse attached to a buggy belonging to a well-known doctor ran away.- It came through the busiest part of the city, and knocked down an elderly woman named Mrs. Charlotte Johnston, at the corner of High-street and Lichfield-street, killing her almost instantaneously. A shocking fatal accident occurred on September 5 at Otamokapua Block, 25 miies north of Hunterville, Wellington. Kevern and Ash were felling a tree, and had cut the front scarfe with the axe and sawn the back, and were standing behind as it fell, when "it slipped back over a stump. Kevern was struck insensible, and two hours after, when he recovered consciousness, found the tree had cut the body of Ash in halves. The remains have to be carried 15 miles through the bush before they can be put on a conveyance. A coloured man named John Bennett was out fishing at Westpotjfc when his boat capsized. A boat which was put out from Cape Foulwind with three men to rescue Bennett was also capsized, and the crew saved themselves with difficulty. Bennett, who is a powerful man, was rescued after being two hours in the water.

At Pahiatua, a fine healthy girl, aged nearly 17 years, the daughter of a settler named Kopke, has died from blood poisoning, caused by her having pricked a pimple on her forehead with a pin. Her face swelled up, and although medical aid was secured, the girl died. The body of Mr. A. Dundas, surveyor, of Palinerston North, who has been missing for three weeks, was found on Oriental Bay Beach, Wellington, on the 24th August., The body was much decomposed. Nothing is known as to how he got into the water. A man named Sam Walker was killed at Motu Bush on Aug. 21. A tree which his mate was felling fell on Walker, crushing his chest and breaking his back and both arms. Death was instantaneous.

A man named McDonald, working on board the Rotokino, fell down the hold on ■August 25, at Port Chalmers. On removal to Dunedin he was found to be suffering from a compound fracture of the skull and a bad fracture of the left arm. He died at six o'clock. He leaves a wife and four children.

The mutilated body of a man named McCarty was found near Shannon, Wellington, on Tuesday morning, the 18th August. It is believed that he was riding along the line when overtaken by a special train which passed through Shannon about two o'clock in the morning having on board a consignment of frozen mutton. John Hooban, farmer, Campbelltown, was killed near Awakuri on August 15 by a trap upsetting. : .