CASUALTIES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11455, 21 June 1899, Page 5

CASUALTIES.

(Pee.- United Pbess Association.)

AUCKLAND, June 20.

A little girl seven years 'of age, daughter of a 'settler and the postmaster, near Pirongia, died from injuries received through her clothes catching fire near a cooking place at Ivuaotunu.

A boy named Hugh, four years old, son of Mrs H. Murray, fell into a creek. His elder brother plunged in and secured the body, but all efforts at resuscitation failed.

A man named John iJcnnor, a resident of Owaka for the paat 10 years, -was found dead on tlie road at Romanapa about a quarter past 10 on Monday morning. He was about 5b years of age, a native of Ireland, and had been 30 years in the colony, coming thither l'rom America. He was in Ealclutha on Sunday, and walked to Romah.apa the same evening, stopping at Mr Boyd's accommodation house. He complained of a severe cold, and appeared-very stupid. Mr Boyd gave him every attention and kindness. , He rose on Monday morning about half-past 9, but took no breakfast—• only a cup of-tea. He shortly afterwards left the house, and at the time stated was found dead about five chains up the road kpm- Mr Boyd's by Mr John Murray, a drover from Pukerau. information was immediately sent to Constable. Griffiths, and an inquest was held in the afternoon before Mr William Hay, J.P., when a verdict was returned to. the effect that death was due to natural causes. Deceased was unmarried; and, so far as is known, has no relatives in the colony.—Clulha Leader. A miner named A. J. Pratt was drowned late on the 14th inst. while-' crossing the Ahaura River, in a canoe, which capsized. Two other occupants, Stevens and Overtoil, escaped. Deceased was a, Druid. He was married, leaving a wife and three children. —Grey River Argus. At Aibury, on May 23, Alex. Everitt, who is subject to epileptic fits, attempted to take his life under sensational circumstances. He -was talking in his mother's house with his sister, Mrs Groom, and seemed calm and rational, when suddenly he drew a razor from his pocket and slashed himself thrice across the throat. The blood spurted all over'the room, and Mrs Groom's screams attracted the attention of a neighbour, Mr Larkin, whg saw Everitt lying perfectly still, with a frightful wound in his neck. -He-., went • for the police, and then a" succession of most violent paroxysms and muscular contortions seized Everitt;, who presented so ghastly a spectacle that his mother and sister fled from the house screaming to a neighbour's place. When the police, arrived they found Everitt had disappeared, but the floor of the house was soaked with blood. While searching the .house groans were heard issuing from a well adjacent, 20ft deep, and containing 6ft of water, and a trail of blood showing that Everitt, on rising from the floor" had rushed straight to the well and jumped down 'it. He was speedily brought' to the surface by a rope, audit was found that he had sustained no injury in the fall, and the immersion seemed to have recalled his wits, as 'he was found standing up in the water. At the hospital, Dr May found the throat wound a very serious one. jagged and so deep that it" almost touched the spinal column in one place ; but it had missed the main artery. Everitt eventually died from his wounds.