DEATHS & CASUALTIES

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7980, 11 December 1911, Page 1

DEATHS & CASUALTIES

LYALL BAY FATALITY YOUNG MAN, DROWNED WHILE BATHING. At 11.45 a.m. yesterday, Robert Dobson, while bathing at Lyall Bay in tho vicinity of the public dressing shed, was carried out by tho current and drowned. Ho left his home at No. 52, Daniel street (where he resided with his parents), in the morning, intending to spend tho day at tho buy. It appears that Mr E. Levy (captain of the Lyall Bay Surf- Club) was teaching the deceased to swim. After in structing him for about five minutes ho left him, up to his waist iu water, to continue practising the stroke, and started to shoot the breakers. When about ten yards from him Levy heard him call out, and went back to hhj. assistance. Dobson had apparently got into a hole, and was out of his depth. Levy took him, and, swimming ou his back, attempted to take him to the shore, but there was a strong undertow and a receding tide, and the rescuer found that ho was being carried further out. He changed his style to the fourth method of rescue, which, while permitting the rescuer to swim on his breast, leaves the diowning person free to struggle. Dobson immediately clutched him round the neck. Levy broke away,' but was again clutched, and the two sank together. After going down twice, Levy again broke the hold, and rose for air. Tho jersey of his Canadian costume was ripped almost entirely from him, and ho was rapidly becoming exhausted. He went back again, however, but found that Dobson had disappeared. He dived several times, but could find no trace of him, and was still searching when. Mr M. Minifie, custodian of the beach and captain of the Maranui Club, arrived with tho reel belt and a squad from his club.

The struggle was not noticed from tho shore until it was too late. Mr A. W. Moran pointed out the two to some members of tho Lyall Bay Club, but they mistook tho thing for horse play. Mr Minifie was at the time near the centre of the beach, where he was warning some bathers to keep away from gome ■dangerous spots which exist in that vicinity. Tho Maranui Club members, were at the eastern end of tho beach) where it was proposed to carry out a surprise rescue, and they followed Mr Minifie when tho alarm was given. Some members of the Lyall Bay Club also went out, and about half an hour was spent in a futile search for tho body, the. swimmers diving in the vicinity without success. Levy was about 300 yards from the’shore when Mr Minifie arrived. A boat was also sent .to assist in'the search, but nothing could he found. The body was noticed iu the surf about fift;y yards from the shore shortly after 3 o’clock by a lady swimmer, who: held it until some swimmers arrived. Resoscitative measures were taken, without effect, and when Dr Bowerbank arrived about 'twenty minutes later 'ho pronounced life, extinct.

Dobson was twenty-two years of age, and was formerly a sergeant in the Wellington Highlanders. An inquest will bo held to-day. FATAL FIRE AT LOWER HUTT.; Shortly before ■ throe o'clock on Saturday morning a five-roomed house in Alicetown, Lower Hutt, was observed to beonfire. The alarm was at once raised, and the fire brigade were quickly on the scene, but not before the flames had complete hold of the building. There was then no suspicion that anyone was in the house. When the fire had been extinguished, however, some of the brigadesmeu entered the ruins and were horrified to discover a man's body in one of tho bedrooms. It was at once recognised’as that of the occupant of the house, Thomas Jenkins, an old and wellknown, resident of tho Hutt valley, who had been employed at the Gear Meat Works. The body was discovered lying on tho floor beside the bed.- Deceased, who was a man of about forty-five years of age, lived by himself, and when aroused by the fire must have already been partially suffocated by smoke and unable to reach an exit before becoming unconscious. _ Deceased was a single man, with a married brother living in Alicetown. Tho firemen removed the corpse to tho Railway Hotel, where an inquest was held on Saturday afternoon by Mr Riddell, coroner, u After evidence had been given by Edward Hobman, W. J. Butler, William Willmio, and George Wright, a verdict of death, from suffocation was returned. WOMAN'S "FATAL SEIZURE. While Madame Karle, a dressmaker, was watching the posting of the election results in Wellington on Thursday evening last, she was seized with a fainting fit. Death occurred yesterday morning. An inquest will be held to-day, KNOCKED DOWN BY MOTOR. On Saturday evening, about 8.30, a motor car, driven by Charles F. Bark, was proceeding across l Cuba' street towards the upper part of Dixon street, when Albert White, six years of age, suddenly left the pavement on Te Aro House corner, and.getting in front of the car, was knocked 'down. Fortunately tho motor was travelling very slowly, and the hoy escaped with only a leg and a hand grazed. PRESS ASSOCIATION. MAORI KILLED ON RAILWAY. AUCKLAND, December 10. A native named Charlie George, of Mercer, employed by tho Railway Department as one of a relaying gang working in the neighbourhood of Kimihia siding, was run over yesterday morning and instantaneously killed by the MercerHuntly goods train. The driver of tho train states that the morning was grey and foggy. As tho train approached Kimihia ho saw something between the lines lying in a crouched and bundledup position. Ho was unable to pull up in time. The body was terribly mutilated. Deceased's bicycle was found alongside the line, and it is supposed that he had a fall, rendering him unconscious. He was a married man. YOUNG MAN’S SUICIDE. CHRISTCHURCH, December 10. Charles Edwin Dobson, twenty-two years of age, residing at Woolston, committed suicide at his own home at about 2.40 p.m. on Saturday. His parents saw him go to hjs room, and hearing a report went to sco what the matter might he.

Deceased lay with a double-barrelled gun close to him. and it was clear that he had shot himself; he was then dead. He had been in ill-health for'some time past. At the inquest a verdict of suicide whilst temporarily insane was returned. BOY CYCLIST KILLED. HASTINGS, December 0. _ Percy Todsou, aged eleven years, collided with a motor car whilst riding a bicycle in Market street this morning, and was killed instantaneously. The boy was riding a zigzag course, and was struck by the car on the left side of the body and , severely crushed., Tho car was travelling at a speed of sin miles . an hour.