FATAL ACCIDENT AT RIVERHEAD

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12736, 13 December 1904, Page 5

FATAL ACCIDENT AT RIVERHEAD

AUSTRIAN THROWN PROM A HORSE. A fatal accident occurred at Riverhead on Sunday afternoon, the victim being an Austrian gumdigger named Marko Surjan, aged about 26 years.. The deceased had been out riding during the afternoon, and had called on a fellow countryman by the name of Tony Martinovieh. They loft together for Surjan's home about half-past four. As Surjaji had only started to ride a horse during the last- few days, he was cautioned by his friend to be careful, but apparently feeling confident of his ability to keep on the saddle, started his horse at a brisk canter. In turning round a corner, the deceased was unseated and thrown, falling heavily on his head: on a post. When picked up by Martinovieh the unfortunate man was quite unconscious, and it was found that his head had been frightfully smashed. As- ! sistauee was immediately sought and obtained, but, in the absence of knowledge of the proper treatment of such cases, little or nothing could be done for the sufferer. The only means of communication aud conveyance to town was by boat, and as the only launch available, that belonging to Mi. L. Godfrey, was lying high and dry, the tide being out, the problem of getting prompt medical attention was a difficult one. The inevitable result was that Surjau had to remain at Riverhead until the tide was in, and the steam, launch left there about seven o'clock. The injured man, however, died a few minutes after starting on the journey, and the dead body was brought to Auckland shortly after eleven o'clock on Sunday night, when it was removed by the police to the morgue.