HOLIDAY CASUALTIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2612, 6 April 1904, Page 24

HOLIDAY CASUALTIES.

,/ATAL ACCIDENT AT PUKETIRAEX A very sad accident occurred at Puke-"•-Kraki on Friday morning resulting in -he death of a young man named Walter M. Abbott, aged 21 years, whose parents .reside at 65 Serpentine avenue, Dunedin. The deceased was a passenger by a special traiu which left Dunedin for the north at 9 a.m. Th© train stopped just before reaching the ii tunnel at Puketiraki, and the deceased stepped off, and when the train proceeded on her journey again a few minutes later Abbott attempted to get on (board, but fell between two carriages, sustaining such severe injuries that he died shortly afterwards. The body was conveyed to Waikouaiti. The deceased, whose father is in the service of the Union Steam Ship Company, was a brother of R. Abbott, the well-known footballer, who was a rnem!ber of the Otago representative <team last season. An inquest was held in the courthouse, "Waikouaiti, on Saturday afternoon ■before Mr E. Davis, J.P. (acting-coroner), and a jury of six, of whom Mr J. J. L. Kerr was chosen foreman. Mr T. A. Bailey appeared to watch the case on behalf of the Railway Department. 'Evidence was given by J- E> Abbott, a brother t>t the deceased) who identified the body; W. Cameron and P. Barry, guard and assistant guard of the train, and R .Thomson, engine driver, who stated that the special train had to run into the siding at Puketeraki to await the train from Oamaru to Dunedin, and as a truck stood at the north end of the siding the "epecial had to back- out again on to the main line. Before doing so the guards called out "All seated," and the engine whistled. On faining the main line the train proceeded direct or the next station, without stopping -again when passing the Puketeraki platform, on ■which stood a number of people, including the deceased and a friend. D. Christie, a fisherman residing at Karitane, and George Burnett, eye-witnesses of the accident, also gave evidence as to how deceased and his friend attempted to get on the^ train, alt-hough it was passing by at about six" miles an hour. / Deceased (fell between the train and the platform, and, being caught by the wheel, was drawn under and rolled and draged for about 14 yards. Th train was stopped at once and the body picked np, put in the van, mid conveyed to Waikouaiti. Constable Burrows, in his evidence, gave particulars as to the state of the> body from the shocking injuries received, and stated that in his opinion death must have been almost instantaneous. After the jury had retired for a time for consultation, they returned into court and gave the following verdict: — "That the deceased accidentally met his death while trying to board a train whilst in motion," adding as a rider, "That the jury are of opinion thai it would be advisable that when a train puts back and comes up to the main platform the tram should stop to pick up intending vassengers."