FATAL ACCIDENT TO MR. JAMES McCOMISH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9480, 9 April 1894, Page 5

FATAL ACCIDENT TO MR. JAMES McCOMISH.

On Saturday > evening, ; after j the close ;of the performance at. the Opera House, a sad accident, befell Mr. James McOomish," or many years leader of the theatre band. Ho was; descending ■}. .the stairway underneath the stage, to the bandmari's room, when his foot slipped, and ihe fell J heavily upon '■ his head. :?; He was picked up in an unconscious state, and admitted after being seen' by Dr. Sharman to the Hospital at three; o'clock in the morning, where- it was found ;he was suffering from a severe fracture of r the skull, and one of his arms was. also broken.: Pray l were .offered for birii at St. Benedict's yesterday morning. The unfortunate man-lingered on till last evening when he died at 9.30. ;.<';. ■; -~ lb is somewhat strange ; that ' the first information of the accident which reached the police authorities, was • given •to them last evening by a newspaper reporter. 'Deceased, who was advanced in years, leaves wife and family. 7 ; He came to the : ; colony the band of one of ;'the Imperial j regiments, -during the Waikato war. For | some time he was bandmaster of the late Hobson i Volunteer Kifle j Corps, and connected with the Volunteer movement. ; r Mr. McComish was a : prominent member of St. Benedict's ; choir, haying at various times conducted the choir in years gone by, I ,and alsojt with his sons, played the orchestral accompaniments. ' \