CASUALTIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 1967, 5 November 1891, Page 35

CASUALTIES.

Daring the passage of the Waitangi from London to Auckland, and when in the Sonthern Ocean (September 17), James Cox, boatswain, aged 37, was lost overboard and drowned through falling from the main rail. A boat's crew j searched for him unsuccessfully. Benjamin Stathridge, a farmer, residing at Belfast, «ged 59, was found dead in a ditch on his property on the 7th. He left home after dinner apparently quite well, and his wife cannot account for his death, as he was hale and hearty and in his usual state of health. A boy named Frank Lindsay, 16 years of age, whose parents reside at Mornington, was drowned on the 28th ult. while bathing in a lagoon at Green Island bush. The boy with a number of other lads were out together. Lindsay, who could Bwim, decided to bathe in tbe lagoon ; but after he had been in the water for some time, he sank. His companions tried to pull come rails off • fence to give to him as a support when he rose to the surface, but they did not succeed, and some of them went for assistance. The body was recovered by tbe Messrs

Eirkland, but all attempts to restore animation proved unavailing. An inquest touching the death of Charles Cochrane, who died at his house, Roslyn, on Thursday last, was held on Friday before Mr Coroner Carew and a jury of six, of whom Mr James Jackson was chosen foreman. Eliza-, beth Cochrane, wife of deceased, Btated that the latter was born at Leith, in Scotland, and had been 18 years in New Zealand. He was a tailor by trade and was 58 years of age. He had pretty good health, but for the past 10 or 12 days he complained of a pain in the inner part of the chest. There seemed no difference in him when he got up on Thursday morning. He had his breakfast, and left as usual about 7 o'clock to go to his work. About half-past 8 witness got a message that deceased was unwell. Witness went to meet him, and he said he thought he could return home all right. On the way, however, he got worse, and had to rest a couple of times. He got to the garden, and just inside he fell down and expired. Dr Colquhoun being telephoned for arrived about 9 o'clock and, examining the body, proneunced life to be extinot. Dr Colquhoun gave evidence' that he thought the cause of death was heart failure. Annie lies also gave evidence. A verdict in accordance with the medioal testimony was returned. The Inspector of Police received intelligence from Lumsden on Friday that Mary Macpheraon, the wife of John Maepherson, an hotelkeeper at Balfoor, died suddenly on the previous night. Dr Dakers, of Lumeden, having given a certificate that the cause of death was apoplexy, an inquest was deemed to be unnecessary. Arthur Moore, a brother of Mr R. Moore, M.H.R., was drowned in tbe Waimakariri at Eaiapoi on the 28th ult. . He is supposed to have fallen into the river while fishing. He was subject to fits. A sailor named John Taylor, 25 years of age (who arrived on the last voyage of the Coptic), while engaged fishing at Lake Taumutu, was drowned through a boat capsizing. Being unable to swim, bis mate, a good swimmer, left him dinging to the boat to get a punt, but Taylor could not be found on his return. A young man named Robert Eirk died on Friday night from the effect of an accident at Eaikoura North on the 27th ult., whereby his left arm was torn off. A boy named Carr, aged 11 years, while playing about the homestead of the station at Wrey's Bush, picked up a piece of phosphorus, with the result that the little fellow's hands, legs, and abdomen were absolutely parboiled. He was taken to the Riverton Hospital, but little hope of his recovery is entertained. Inspector Hickson received information by a wire from Gore on Monday that a labourer named William M'Call, 59 years of age, had committed suicide there by hanging himself. The Inspector of Police has been notified that the infant child of Joseph Hollows, of Shag Point, died suddenly on Sunday. The cause of death is supposed to be convulsions. A man named Henry Francis, who has been residing in a small tenement in Walker street, was found dead in his bed about half-past 1 o'clock on Monday afternoon. Deceased is supposed to have been a wharf lumper, and was discharged from the hospital about three weeks ago. He was last seen about 6 o'clock on Sunday evening by Mr J. Thomas, and he then complained of feeling unwell. There were no marks on the body that would lead to any suspicion of foul play. The North Ofcago Times reports that a daughter of Mr Waldie's (manager for Messrs Wait and Burbury, at Clarkesfield, Eurow) was drowned in a creek near, the house. Stanley Lucas, 20 months old, strayed and fell into a water race near bis parents' house at Ashburton on Saturday, and was found dead an hour after he was last seen. A man named Tullocb, a recent arrival from England, fell off the Queen's wharf, Welling- | ton, on Monday night and was drowned. Samuel Goodall was found drowned in a waterhole in the Waimate river. He had been in town for a week drinking heavily. Robert; James Newell was drowned while bathing in the Waipa river at Ngaruawbaia. He was 35 years of age, and leaves a family of young children. William M'Call, the man who committed suicide at Gore on Monday, was in the employ of Mr J. S. Miller, of Enapdale. As he appeared to be of nnsound mind Mr Miller took him to Gore to consult a medical man. When Mr Miller entered a chemist's shop M'Call made his way to the stable where the horse had been put np and hanged himself, using the cart reins for that purpose. The deceased's age was 59, and he was a native of the North of Ireland. So far as known he had no relations ia the colony. He ; was not married. There was found upon his person a sam of £11 5s in cash and a deposit receipt for £50. A girl, three years of age, named Townson, ! whose clothes acoidently caught five on Monday at Hastings, died from her injuries this i morning.