CASUALTIES

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10651, 26 July 1920, Page 5

CASUALTIES

MIRACULOUS ESGAPE AMBULANCE AND CAR COLLIDE. Shortly before 8 o'clock on Saturday evening, at the hospital gates, Riddiford street, a rather sensational accident occurred, which fortunately was not attended with any serious results. Mr James Martin, of 69, Pirio street, was driving his motor-cur along Riddiford street to wards Newtown, and when opposite tho hospital gates collided with the hospital ambulance, which was turning out of the drive in tho same direction. The impact was so great that two of tho men, William A hired, of" 25, Flockton Christchurch, and Alfred Goker, of 75, Riutoul street, who were eeated in tho rear seat of the motor-car, wore thrown almost across the street. When picked up, Cokor wa6 quito unconscious, while Aldred was considerably dazed. Both were immediately removed to the hcispital, where they recovered sufli.cieutly to leave the .institution, although suffering from severe _ shock. Aldred sustained injuries to his right hip, side, and arm, while Coker had his right wrist dislocated. Mr Martin and his wife, who were sitting in tho front of the car, were thrown out, but fortunately escaped injury. Both cars were rather badly damaged, the ambulance crushing in tho rear left wheot and mud-guard of the motor-car.

Sergeant Cruickshank, of the South Wellington station, stated that the collision was severe, and describes tho eecapo from death of the two men thrown across the street a miraculous one. KILLEI>~BY A TRAIN. RETURNED SOLDIERS* TRAGIC END. At 4.50 p.m. on Saturday Hector D. Urquhart, a ieturned soldier, in attempting to cross the railway line at Mamaku in front of the incoming Retorua express, was caught by the engine. His legs were severed. He was brought to the Rotorua hospital and operated upon, but died about 9-30 o'clock. His age was about 30. He had drawn a section at Rotorua and had been at Rotorua on business, and was returning to Auckland 'by the afternoon train which passes the express at Maniaku.

FATAL FALL FROM DRAY. AChristchnrch telegram states that a middle-aged man, Frederick Jenkins, was killed at Waikuku yesterday, as the result,of falling from a dray. A TRAP ACCIDENT. ' ' When being driven along the Hutt road, near the Petono railway station, a horse which was attached to a gig took fright' suddenly and bolted. During its career the occupants— : two residents of Silverstream—were- thrown from the vehicle. One landed against a gate, which broko his fall, and the other on the footpath. Both were considerably shaken and received abrasions and cuts, none of which, wers serious. After receiving, attention," the injured persons proceeded by "tram to their homes at Silverstreani. ' DEATH FROM EXPOSURE, f A Wanganui telegram states' that Gustaf Olsen, a single man, aged 52 t a labourer by occupation, residing ;at Kai Iwi, was found frozen to death;on the roadsides He was out all night and expired from exposure to the very cold weather experienced. i THE KEREPEEHI~FATALLTyI Further dotiils of tho Kerepeehi burning fatality show that the two children who lost their lives were, aged 18 months and three years respectively. ' Their sister (aged 12), wh,b was left in charge of tho little ones, made pluoky attempts at rescue. The fire occurred when the mother, Mrs Waikato, had gone off to the store, a considerable distance away, to purchase candles. Four small children were in bed. In the centre of thy .whare, thcro was a wooden fire in a-kerosene tin. The girl in charge fell asleep, and while she was in this state, the tin was overturned. The blankets caught fire and quickly blazed up. Two of the children were bravely rescued by tho awakoned girl, out the others sustained injuries to which they later succumbed. Two men passing saw the flamos and went for the mother, while the others assisted to extinguish tho lire. Strange to say, tho whare was practically undamaged. ' N ATWEFO UNP,' SHOT. Further details of the fatality near Hamilton show that tho native, who was named Tanke Ina, aged 30 years, waa found in his house at Waimiha at 6.30 o'clock in the morning, with the top of his head blown off. A doublebarrelled gam was lying close by. Thos deceased was a married man. A fireman iiamod Edward "Of win, employed on the R.M.S. Tofua, slipped while going ashore on Saturday and broko his left leg. Ho was taken to the hospital, and is reported to bo making good progress. Oakloigh, the hurdler, ridden by E. Warner, fell at the second fence of tho doublo while schooling at Ellerslie last week. Warner suffered a nasty fall, ond it was feared ho had fractured his collarbone, but ou examination ho was found to' have escapee; with a shaking.