CASUALTIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2672, 31 May 1905, Page 33

CASUALTIES.

While one of the crew of the Quathlamba ■was working aloft at Lyttelton he accidentally dropped a block, which struck Frank Mapple (who was engaged stowing cargo) on the head. Mapple received a nasty cut and was dazed for a little time. A member of the Christoburch Bearer Corps, who was working close by at the time of the accident, (skilfully dressed the wound on Mapple'e forehead. A young man named Dwyer, a passenger by the first express from the south on the 23rd, when crossing from one carriage to the next, slipped on the bridge, and in falling his right arm went through the glass door of the carriage. He received a nasty wound, and was removed to the Christchurch Hospital. »j^?\ Orepuki correspondent of the Southland rsews states that a young man named Bertie Imbs, while out shooting near Wakapatu with Mr T. Butler and one or two others, had the misfortune at 10.30 a.m. on the 21st to have two fingers and part of his left hand blown off. It appears that at that J-ime they were resting, and the others decided to" unload their rifles,, but Imbe did not. Imbs was standing with the butt end of his rifle resting on the ground, and had his hand on the mouth of the rifle, when in some way,*he weapon went off. Information from South Africa has reached Balclutha to the effect that Mr Bert JShalders; of Puerua, who has been attached to the South -African Constabulary since his to the Transvaal, has had a serious ' tecciclenir, -resulting in hospital treatment and ' * painful operation. A nasty accident occurred at Coal Creek {West Qoast) a. few days ago. Two young jboys were playing with a tomahawk, when the axe slipped, whereby Harold Lodder, aged six years, sustained a fracture of the skull. Dr Millington was soon in attendance, and had the sufferer conveyed to ♦own, but his condition was rather serious. The body of a man about 45 years of Age was found floating in Wellington harbour 6n the*2sth. The body was identified as that of David Thompson, tailor, married. His ■wife is supposed to be living in Dunedin. John Charles Abbott, aged about 38 years, a recent arrival from South Africa, Willis street, Wellington, on Thursday, and seriously injured. A little girl named Melita Comino, was .accidentally run over by a lorry at Auckland on -the 26th inst. * George Geddes, jun., was killed on the Maerewhenua road, near Duntroon, on Fri- j day by a dray passing- over him. W. T. Grant, a young man employed on a co-operative contract, was tilled while trash-felling at_ Reefton on the 23rd. The j deceased was single, and has no relatives in the colony. The young man M'Donald, who was lucked by a horse at Mataura while putting ion a cover, and who^was sent to the Invercargill Hospital last Saturday, died on %be-26th inst. A «ingle man named Frank Lupton, aged 25 years, who has been in business at Timaru for a few years as a commission agent stnd tobacconist, committed euicide on the 23rd by shooting himself in his lodgings with a revolver. He has a Ibrother in Waimate. The deceased insured liis life a year ago for £500. At the inquest a verdict was returned that deceased took fcis life while temporarily insane. A painful sensation was caused in Nelson on the 26th inst; by the news that Harry Xiane, a popular man, under 30 years of age, well known in local musical and sporting circles, had committed suicide by hanging at Messrs Hounsell's bookselling establishment, where he was employed. Deceased had just returned from a holiday at Christchurch. He Was quite cheerful at breakfast, and no cause is assigned for the deed, j except that he suffered from bad health. I No further details are yet available. j An inquest was held at Wellington on the 26th by the coroner concerning the death of David Thompson, aged 52 years, who •was found, drowned on Thursday morning. Evidence showed that deceased had been missing from his work for several days. He was addicted to absence from work, but never led anyone to believe that he had troubles on his mind likely to drive him to euicids. He was seen alive at his lodgings on Wednesday evening at 7 o'clock. He left no communication at the house for anyone. There is a son of deceased resident in a southern town. When the body was found there were no marks of violence on it. The jury returned a verdict of *' Found drovrned." A painfully sudden death took place at Sir G. Scudamore's residence at Clarksville on Saturday night, 20th (says the Milton Mirror). Mrs Mathason, of Dunedin, had been staying with her daughter, Mns Scuda- < more, for some weeks past. Though not in I very good health, she would not allow £he doctor to be called in. Mrs Matheson wa.\ troubled a good deal with bronchitis, and i had just recovered from an attack of British j cholera, but felt well enough to talk about •returning to her home in Dunedin;. in fact, i?he was up on Saturday and ate her meals heartily. About 10 o'clock Mrs Soudamore I lieard a scream from her mother's bedroom, .and on rushing in found her in a sinking condition, and calling for a stimulant. This ■was brought and help secured, but the patient gradually sank, and when the doctor arrived was past avail. The deceased lady was 67 years of age, and was born in Glasgow. William Connolly, aged 22 years, shot himself in the region of the heart with a revolver at Cambridge, Auckland. The affair is the outcome of a courtship episode. The incident occurred on the 22nd, while Connolly was in company with a young lady. The Star's account of the Cambridge tragedy states that Connolly was keeping | company with a. young lady whose parents 'did not approve. She broke off the relationship. Connolly boiight a small revolver on Monday, and in the evening met the young lady and told her he could not live without her. Sihe remained obdurate, and they parted. Immediately thereafter Connolly shot himself, the bullet passing over bis heart, through, the lung, and lodging in the back. The young lady assisted Connolly to a neighbour's house, where medical attendance was procured. Connolly was conveyed to a private hospital on a Stretcher. He was alive next morning, but there is not much hope of his recovery. On Friday the Blenheim oil launch MinneS=aha, bound from Port Underwood to Blenheim, capsized while crossing the bar of the Wairau River. Four men who were on board were thrown into the water, and doubtless theire would have been a fatal ■esulfc if the accident had not been seen

from the pilot station. Captain Fisk, th© pilot, manned another cil launch, with which a prompt rescue was effected, the ' engineer of the trawler Phantom being picked up in an exhausted condition. Th© Phantom's machinery was on board and was lost. A young man named John Woods, while • employed in blasting operations at the j Water of Leith on Friday, met with an 1 accident, whereby his face, neck, and arms j were severely bm-ned. He put in a blasting charge, and after firing it retired some distance, but after waiting for a con- ! siderable time concluded there would cot be an explosion, and went to ascertain the oause. Just after he got to the locality the explosion occurred, with the result above stated. The injured man was conveyed to the Hospital, where his injuries were attended to, and on inquiry we learn ' that no serious consequences are expected to result. " A Chinaman named Ah Jim, about 61 yeare of age, was found dead in his hufc at Ophir on Thursday.