INJURED AT RUGBY.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1747, 30 August 1905, Page 26

INJURED AT RUGBY.

DUNEDIN, August 26. For some years past Rugby in Gtagai has been immune from serious accident* but, unfortunately, the match between Otago and Southland to-day was marred by a serious mishap to W. Bailey, one of Otago’s forwards. The game throughout was fast, and the tackling very effective, but there was an entire absence of even a semblance of rough play. The game was played in the best spirit imaginable. Everything went well until a few minutes before half-time, when the home team was called upon to stave off a pressing attack by Southland, the visitors trying hard to score. Open play, consisting of more or less scramble, took place close to the Otaga line, when suddenly Bailey was prostrated. So unexpected was the accident that the game continued some; seconds before the mishap was notice® Iby the referee. Dr Macphenson was quickly on the scene, and ordered the removal of Bailey, who was suffering from a compression of the spine. After furthermedical examination in the dressingroom an ambulance was procured, and the sufferer removed to the hospital. None of the players apparently know exactly how the accident happened, but from Bailey’s statement it appears that: he turned a somersault and fell, witds two men on top of him. Bailey, a carter by occupation, is paralysed from the waist downwards, and can just move his arms. The case is very, serious, little hope of recovery being entertained. Bailey’s depositions have bee»< taken, and in his statement he blame®, nobody, describing the affair as purely* accidental. It is a remarkable coincidence that an accident of a somewhat similar nature, which terminated fatally, happened to Armit exactly six years ago today. August 27. Bailey has undergone an operation. What the ultimate result will be it is* impossible to say. He has at presentgot over the effects of the chloroform* A man named Corbett was also received into the hospital having had a collar-bone broken in- ar football match-.