ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1163, 15 June 1894, Page 35

ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.

A distressing fatal accident which occurred at Bunnythrope on Thursday, and by which Mrs Annie McKeller lost her life, has caused a gloom in the district. The Advocate gives the following particulars : —" When riding from Palmerston towards Bunnythrope yesterday afternoon, the Kov. Judkins, of Fielding, saw Mr McKeller standing on the road supporting his wife, who appeared to be very ill, and was vomiting. Mr McKeller informed Mr Judkins that as they were driving down the cutting, the horse stumbled, and Mrs McKeller fell forward on to the splash-board. Her leg was hurt by the fall, and this at first she thought was all the harm that had happened her ; but all at once she was seized with pains in the chest and commenced to vomit. Mr McKeller besought Mr Judkins to ride to Palmerston for Dr Mclntyro at once. He did so, but not finding Dr Mclntyre at home he obtained the services of Dr Satchel. When Mr Judkins returned to the scone of the accident, however, he found Mr McKeller standing by his dead wife. Mr McKeller, for whom there is much sympathy expressed, is manager oc the creamery at Bunny thorpe." The Palmerston Standard says that Mr and Mrs McKeller were driving into Palmerston with a friend, to attend Miss Bessie Doyle's concerts and that the horse stumbled and threw the party on to the road, Mrs McKeller being instantly killed. Miss Bessie Doyle, who was greatly moved when she heard of the fatal accident to the concert party, sent a sympathetic telegram to Mrs McKeller's relatives, and has ordered a wreath to bo placed on the coffin.

At the inquest, the evidence showed that the horse fell on a rolling stone at the foot of the kill, and the occupants of the bugcy were thrown out. Deceased got up and

appeared unhurt. She helped to unhainesa the horse and then walked about 30 yard* up the hill, and stood there about an hour before she died. Her children were brought before she died, but the doctor did not arrive until half an hour afterwards. Dr Satchell's evidence went to show that Mrs MoKellar died through rupture of thej diaphragm, caused by a blow on tho chest. Deceased was 53 years of ago and loaves eight children, all grown up. A verdict of accidental death was returned.

A fire occurred in two workshops at Eden terrace, Auckland, on Thursday night. Goodwin's carriage-building shop was destroyed, and WetherelTs blacksmith's shop gutted. Mr Wetherell, owner of tho workshops, had an insurance of .£IOO in tho Royal Office on the two buildings and his own plant; and Mr Goodwin has J 875 of insurance in tho United Office on his plant and stock.

Tho flax burned in the fire at Mr W. Bock's goods dep6t, Featherston, was insured for «£3OOO with the London and Lancashire Company, the greater part of which. was re-insured. A lad named Charles Hankins was thrown into a ditch by a horse which bolted with, him along the Stoney Creek road, Palmerston North. He was severely bruised, but fortunately no bones wore broken. During tho progress of the Association; football match Swifts v. United, at tha Hobson street ground, on Saturday, N. W. Bell, who was playing for tho latter club, had his leg broken by getting it locked ia that of another player named Naylor. Tho injured limb was bound up by Mr Nairn, whoso surgical experience came in very fortunately, and Bell was as soon as possible taken in a cab to the Hospital, whero ho is reported to bo progressing very favourably. Inspector Ponder received a telegram from Constable Foley, of Greytown North, onSaturday, informing him that a settler at Morrison's Bush, named James Beard, who had been missing from his home since 8 a.m. the previous day, had that morning been found dead near his house.

Whilst bushfelling for Mr A. Dick, at Birmingham, on Friday, a man named Duncan Noble, through his slasher slipping, cut one of his logs rather badly below tho knee-cap. He was brought into Foilding by Mr Peterson's coach and placed under Dr Charlton's caro.— Star.

Mrs Crombie, wife of Mr James Crombie, draper, Auckland, died on Sunday from a fall from a step-ladder. Mr W. Maslin, eldest son of Mr W. •&. Maslin, M.H.R., met with an accident at Geraldine. Ho was trimming a live fenco on his father's grounds with a reap hook when it slipped, inflicting an ugly gash on his right leg.

Dunedin, May 18.

Mr Bridger, of Thohipson and Bridger, hardware importers, committed suicide by shooting himself in th head with a revolver at his residence, Caversham Rise, this morning.

It is understood that the act was induced by business worries. Deceased "was to have sailed for England shortly. He leaves a widow and a large family. During the voyage of the Sadie A. Thompson, which has* arrived from New Tork, Peter Karslon, A. 8., fell from aloft; on to the deck, on March 29, and was instantly killed. Dunedin, May 21. The body of Joshua Eccles, at one timo licensee of the Duke of Edinburgh Hotel, was found in the bay yesterday. At tho inquest, the evidence showed that Ecclea had been drinking until about a week ago. The jury returned a verdict that no drowned himself while temporarily insane* through drink. Deceased was 54 years oC ago. Wanganui, May 21. Just before midday one of the crew of the fishing cutter Ashurst, whose namo is unknown, but who is supposed to be a. foreigner, was capsized from the cutter and drowned in 25 feet of water. The body has not yet been recovered. The placa where tho accident occurred is on the Putiki side of the river, nearly opposite the town wharf. Hastings, May 18. This morning, as a special meat train, heavily loaded, was returning from Wai. pukurau, it got on the wrong line at Hastings through the points being closed—at least that is the supposition. The driver, seeing what was wrong, shut off steam and whistled for breaks. Before the train could bo pulled up, how* ever, it ran into a couple of trucks of fire* wood Both the trucks and the engine were a good deal damaged, one of the former being smashed to atoms. A long piece of wood projecting over tho end of the nearest truck went through tho cab of tho engine, and grazed the drivers ear. He had a most miraculous escape. To give an idea of the force of the blow, it may be said that one of the trucks loaded was driven about two chains on the sleepers after it left tho rails, and then capsized. There was no stoppage of traffic as the whole lot was thrown clear of the track, and now lies on the side of the bank. Later. It has transpired that the driver, Patrick McGrath, was pinned against the door of the fire-box by the cab being stove in, and ho was considerably bruised and cut. The guard, Jull, also got a severe shaking. It is surmised that the accident occurred through a stone getting between the rails, and thus preventing the points from closing properly, as the lever, when examined, was found to be in the correct position. Last evening a train from Waipukurau drawn by two engines, encountered a log of firewood about eight inches thick. The front enpino jumped over it, and landed on the rails again, but the wood got entangled in the link motion near the firebox. The train was stopped, however, and after a good deal of delay and hard work the obstruction was removed,