CASUALTIES.

Otago Witness, 14 December 1893, Page 22

CASUALTIES.

Afc an inquest on the body of George M Quoy, who was found dead in a drain near Kihikihi, Auckland, medical evidence was given to the effect that death was due to rupture of the stomach, probably caused by deceased's horse falling on him. A verdict was given accordingly. Joseph M'Carthy, aged 14, was drowned while bathing off the Wellington Rowing Club's skids on Friday. He and two others went for a swim, and M 'Car thy disappeared soon after entering the water. Aa employe on the Knapdale estate, named Llewellyn Jones, met with an accident at the shearing shed on the sbh, and suffered such injuries that little hopes are entertained of his recovery. He was in charge of the eDgine that drives the Wolseley machinery, and while he was oiling the bearings of the main shafting it is supposed (the Ensign says) a partially-dis-connected portion of his coat sleeve became entaDgled in the belting, the result being that he was carried with such force against a beam that his head was very seriously injured and all his clothing torn off. A man named William George Burnley died suddenly at Christchurch on Fiiday night. A verdict was returned at the inquest to the effect that death resulted from natural causes. Miss Margaret Craigie, the third daughter of Mr Richard Craigie, a respected farmer near Henley, has disappeared under circumstances which suggest that she has been drowned at the Taieri Ferry. It appears (the Advocate says) that last Wednesday Miss Craigie and her sister, having spent the evening out, returned to their home together, and shortly after both retired for the night. Half an hour after Miss M. Craigie rose again, putting on a light dress over her night-gown. She was then barefooted, but carried in her hands a pair of slippers Her sister observed her movements, and she asked Miss Craigie where ehe was going at that time. The latter made the reply, "I will be back in a minute," and left the room. She has not been seen since. On Friday three boats were engaged dragging the river. In the afternoon one of her slippers was found embedded in the mud on the river beach not far from the boat landing. The slipper was found with the toes pointing towards the deep water. Dragging operations were carried on in the river opposite to where the slipper was found, but if the young lady is drowned the current would probably have carried the body some distance from the spot where she entered the water. There seems little doubt that the young lady by some means or other has met her death by drowning. Mr Thomas Whittingham, chemist, was found dead in his shop in the Arcade at 8 o'clock on Monday night. As the shop had ne t been opened since Saturday some of the neighbours became alarmed, and information being given to the police, Sergeant Shirley proceeded to the back of the premises. He noticed a gas jet burning in one of the rooms, and obtaining a ladder be ascended to the window and saw the deceased gentleman lying on a sofa apparently quite dead. The door was then burst open and Dr Lamb sent for. That gentleman on arrival examined the body and gave it as his opinion that death must have occurred fully 24- hours previously. Mr Whittingham was of an advanced age. He carried on business for a number of years past in the Arcade, living by himself in the shop. A girl named Lizzie Price, a barmaid at Otaki, has been arrested on the charge of having murdered her infant child. The body of the child was found in a box. Saturday's Western Star says that W. Printz, a son of Mr George Printz, met, with a nasty accident on Tuesday at Pahi while yardiDg sheep. His horse brought him in contact with a fence, and his arm was broken below the elbow. At Gisborne orx Tuesday a shocking accident befell a man named Herry Burst, chief lighterman on the cutter Iris, which was tendering wool to the ship Eatrella. Tte last bale was being taken on board tie Estrella, when the bale, as it ascecded, struck Burst on the side, knocking him overboard. As he fell the bale swung and jammed his feet against the rail, the man falling head downwards. The ship gave a lurch towards the lighter, crushing Burst fearfully about the head. lie was hauled aboard and conveyed to- the hospital, wheie he lies in an unconscious and critical state.

The barque Soukar, from London, reports that on September 28 a seaman named J. Gay was knocked overboard by the cross-jack sheet. A lifebuoy was thrown, bub the man, being stunned, was unable to help himself. A boat was lowered and was away from the ship nearly two hours, but could see no trace of Gay, so the vessel kept on her course.

Early on Sunday morning a peculiarly painful accident occurred to Mr Evans, a resident of the North-Bast Valley. A small outbreak of fire occurred in the kitchen, which was first noticed by his daughter. She at once wakened her father, and he, in his hurry to get out of bed, caught his foot in the blanket, with the result that he fell with the whole foree_ of his body against the door post, striking it with the top right hand side of his head, and tearing a hole in the scalp about eight inches long. Notwithstanding this terrible wound, Mr Evans continued for 10 minutes to throw buckets of water on the flames till the fire was extinguished. Only trifling damage was caused by the fire, but Mr Evans's injuries are very severe.

A young man named W. Bonnor, second son of Mr and Mrs Bonnor, of Lower Harbour, and who was a seaman on board the barque Northern Chief, was drowned while bathing at Pahi, Kaipara, on the 21sb of November. The body was recovered four days afterwards and buried in the Pahi cemetery. Great sympathy is .felt for Mr and Mrs Bonnor, who are old residents of Lower Harbour.