CASUALTIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2665, 12 April 1905, Page 49

CASUALTIES.

The man who was killed on the railway line near Sawyers' Bay on the 28th ult. has since been identified. In accordance with the police custom a post-mortem photograph wa« taken of deceased bafore burial, and this has since been recognised by some of the man's late mates at Oamaru. and also by Mr Garden Watson (late manager of the Taratu Coal Company), as that of James Scott, a miner, who is supposed to have a wife residing at the Brunnerton coal mine, on the West Coast.

An inquest was held by Mr C. C. Graham, corner, at Hrghcliff, on Wednesday last, concerning the sudden death of a child 20 months old, the daughter of Mr Robert M'Meeking, farmer, of Highcliff. From th? evidence given it appeared the chiild had been ill for three days, and its mother gave it castor oil, and applied hot fomentations. It seemed to be getting better, and it was not considered necessary to call in a doctor. On Tuesday afternoon, however, it became worse, and died somewhat suddenly. Dr Macpherson was sent for, but the child was dead before he arrived at the house. He was not prepared to give a certificate of death, and consequently an inquest had to be held to hear the evidence of the mother. At the inquest Dr Macpherson said he had no doubt death was due to an attack of peritonitis : that a child of that age, with not a very strongconstitution, would succumb suddenly to Mich an attack. The jury returned a verdict in accordance with the medical testirrony.

The jockey James M'Guire, who was injured by his horse falling on him at the Akaroa Racing Club's meeting on Saturday, showed the first signs of returning consciousness on the sth. For the previous four days he had been fed through a tube, but that day he was able to swallow food. Although he has been unconscious for a lengthy period, the hospital surgeon has little doubt that he will recover.

Frederick Morrow, aged 23 years, was killed in a drive ai, Orepuki on Wednesday. He was filling a truck with coal when the roof commenced to cave in. He endeavoured to climb over, but; the earth pinned him to the truck. Death was instantaneous.

A man at Waipukurau, while walking in his sleep, got out of a window and slipped o'i a skylight, which gave way. The unfortunate man received severe injuries to his leg.

A man named John Watson, an old servant of the Roads Department, was killed on Thursday on the Taupo road, Rotorna. He was riding on the fore-car-riage of a bullock-dray. In turning a corner the carriage turned, and the body of the dray pushed Watson off and the wheels cf the wn.ggon passed over him. Death was instantaneous. The driver did not see him fall off. Watson was 73 years of age.

At Dannevirke, on the 6th, a young man named George Sergeant, single, 24 years of age, living near Wimbledon, was wounded in the shoulder by a bullet while getting over ?ome rails owing to the accidental discharge of a gun. The bullet was afterwards extracted from his back. Hopes are entertained of his recovery. Sergeant walked a mile after the accident to a neighbour's for assistance. His father and mother left last month for Homo.

Ellen Fisher, aged two years, was run over by a truck at the Westport Coal Company's tramway at Coalbrookdale, and killed instantaneously.

While Mi James Spedden, of Gimmerburn, was returning home from the stock sale at Rough Ridge recently, his horse shied and capsized its driver, who received a severe shaking and a black eye. Mr Spedden is in the Naseby Hospital, and is rapidly recovering. — Naseby correspondent.

A young man named Claude Harvey was drowned by falling into a tub of water at his parents' residence at Devonport. He. was subject to epileptic fits. He had only been missed for a few minutes.

Mrs Demnsev, a very old' resident of Onehunga. died very suddenly. The deceased lady had entertained some friends and was saying " Good-bye " to them at the front door. when, witlrout a moment's warning, she fell to the floor. She was immediately removed to her bedroom and a messenger despatched for medical aid. but she expired in a few minutes.

The Te Tua correspondent of the Southland Times reports that during the night of Wednesday, sth inst.. James Campbell, a rabbiter there, was sleeping in a covered cart, when a dead birch tree fell on the cart, smashed a wheel and one side of the vehicle, and struck Campbell on the side, severely bruising him, but fortunately breaking no bones. Had the tree fallen nearer the centre of the cart the man must have been crushed to cleath. It will bo some time before he -will be able to get about with freedom.

Reginald Rutton, aged 18. residing at Karori, "Wellington, was accidental!}- shot dead on Sunday while rabbit-snooting. He was trailing a gun. when it went off. the charge lodging in the groin. He died in a few minutes.

An infant named Miller died suddenly at a licensed homo kept by a Mrs Jordan, at Caver«ham on Monday.

A man named Irving. 70 years of asyo, who had been in indifferent health, attempted to commit suicide- at Oamaru on Monday by cutting his throat. He is in a precarious condition.

Mr John Mulvena, formerly a farmer at Maerowhenua, died rather suddenly at the residence of Mr John "White. Oamaru, on Saturday morning. For over a year Mr Mulvena has been indisposed, suffering, he supposed, from the -effects of a sunstroke. The cause of death, hou-awr, was abscess of

the brain. His illness affected his mind, and some time ago ho was sent to Seacliff, bufc was discharged a few weeks ago. Dr Whitton, who had attended deceased, was able to state the cause of death, and an inqu-est was deemed unnecessary. A blind man named Charles Gray, a^edi about 45 years, and who has been in receipt of aid "from the Benevolent Trustees, attempted to commit suicide by hanging on Monday. Gray, who lives in Stafford avenue, tied a window-cord to the foot of his bed, and, fastening the other end round his neck, threw himself out of the window. He was found shortly before 10 p.m. irt. this position by a man named John Faithful, who cut him down. Life was not extinct, and the man was removed in the ambulance to the Hospital, where it was ascertained! that the rash act was not likely to end fatally, and latest inquiries elicit the information that he is recovering.