CASUALTIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2677, 5 July 1905, Page 33

CASUALTIES.

John Goonan died when returning home to Paeroa, Auckland, on Monday night, 26th ult. Ho fell from a bridge into the Ohinemuri River, and was drowned. A verdict of "Accidental death was returned.

An old man, Charles Heatherly. fell over the terrace at Blackball, West Coast, on the night of the 26th ult., and was killed, death being instantaneous. The Grey River Argus states that on Tuesday, 20th ult., the body of a man was found near the Cobden breakwater, very much decomposed. The head and shoulders were missing, but the trousers, shirt, and boots were on the body. It is believed to be the remains of the man Brennan, who committed suicide some months ago at Kokiri.

A most unfortunate accident happened to Mrs Christopher M'Dowell at Mataura on Friday night, 23rd ult. The lady (reports the Standard) was in tho act of stooping to pick up a pillow that had fallen in her bedroom, when eh© came in contact with a broken chair, one of the stays of which penetrated her eye and burst it. Mrs M'Dowell was taken to the Dunedin Sospital on Saturday morning for treatment, and in all probability it will be found necessary to remove the injured eye. A woman named Mrs Payne was severely burned at Miki Miki on Sunday week by faUing into a fire while in a fit. The sufferer was brought into the Masterton Hospital on Monday, and is now making satisfactory progress towards recovery. Eileen Wallace, aged nine years, d : ed in Auckland Hospital on tho 28th after having been treated for severe burns. Deceased was playing near a fire about a month ago, and by some means her clothing became ignited. Her mother, who Vas in the next room, heard her cries and quickly put cut the flames — not, however, before the little one had sustained severe burns about the neck.

A teameter named Aylwood was killed on the Umutaoroa road, Hawke's Bay, by the overturning of a waggon laden with timber. Deceased recently came to Dannevirke from the Auckland district. It h understood he leaves a wife and family at Devonport.

The death occurred on the 28th of Mrs Blundell, a pioneer settler at Murehison ; aged nearly 90. An old resident of Alexandra 8., named Henry Watson, was found drowned in the Mariuhorikia River on the 28th ult. He to? in town on Tuesday, and left for his home at Springvale at dusk. The body was found about a quarter of a mile above the mouth of^the river.

A man named Wheeler had a novel experience at Alexandra S. on the 26th. He had put seven plugs of dynamite on a stove to dry. Shortly afterwards a violent explos'on occurred, which wrecked part of the house am! contents. Several others who were in the room escaped with a- few bruises and a shaking, but Wheeler was seriously injured and had to be taken to the Dunstan Hospital.

On die 28th, as an electric oar from the Post Office to Cargill's Corner was running over the points on the single line near the Kensington Hotel, the conductor, who was standing on the stop with both hands in hie bag. in the act of giving a passenger change, was tin-own off. The injuries he sustained, though not serious, necessitated bis going oft' duty. A fatal gun accident occurred at Maungaturoio, Auckland, on tho 28th, in which a young man named Geo. Curtis blew the top cf his head off. It appears that he had been shooting a beast with a double-barrelled gun, both barrels of which were loaded. After shooting tho beast he dropped the butt of the gun on the ground, causing the other barrel to explode with fatal effects. Deceased leaves a young wife and one child.

Constable Maher, Taumaruimi, Auckland, telegraphs particulars of a fatality which

occurred at Kakahi. Sydney Watson, aged three years, being accidentally shot in the stomach by a boy of eight years, named Charles Joy, who was handling a pea rifle. The Otautau Standard states that on. Wednesday, June 21, a painful accident occurred at Nightcaps to a young man named Daniel Hishon, aged 20, second son of Mrs Hishon, of Winton It appears that he was engaged in loading a truck with coal, and when that was finished the engine approached to couple on. Hishon attempted to cross to the other side of the truck to put the brake down, but the engine caught him before ho could get through, and severely crushed him. Hishon was removed to the Riverton Hospital, where it was found that his polvip. was smashed. He is now, however, making a rapid recovery. A man named Hall, a co-operativo "* labourer, working on the tunnel railway woi'L at Or icru, Taranaki, met with an. accident ,en Friday by which boih 1-ejs worn broken and ins back injured. He wt.s remove 1 to the hosnitar. While the 7.40 a.m. train from Oamaru was shunting at Herbert vn Friday morning a pettier, whose name could not be ascertained, met with a mishap. It appears that the rear van was close to the railway; crossing as the train was pulled up at station, and during the course of - mo shunting operations the train was tacked towards the road just at the moment a seit'er was driving past the rear of the train, after having delivered the morning's milk at the creameiy. The shouts of the passengers warned the engine-driver that something was amiss, but before- the engine could be stopped the hor c e and cart had be&n pushed over the cattle stop. Beyond a severe shaking and fright, tho horse and driver escaped injury, but the cart was somewhat badly damaged. The Christchurch police received telepraphic information on Wednesday from Cheviot to the effect that Kathleen Daltcil, aged eight years, the daughter of Patrick Dalton, died on Tuesday, in consequence of several burns sustained through her clothes catching fire on the 19th ult. Edward Jones, aged 75, an Imperial pensioner, was killed by being struck by sC tiamca-r while crossing the road at Epsom, Auckland, on Friday evening. The body of Daniel M'Alister, who hek been missing from Ahuriri, Napiei\ sinew Wednesday last, was found in the Iron Pofe on Sunday morning. The body was fully clothed, avid there were no marks 08 violence about it. It is assumed that as th» body was found near the spot where the trawler Pilot on which M'Alister was working was berthed on Wednesday night, deceased, in going on board the vessel to sleep, inu&l have slipped and fallen overboard.

An old man named Chas. Bird', who was taken to duistchuroh Hospital on June IS suffering from injuries to his hip and groin,' caused, as he stated, by a collision v with a. coach on the day before, died from, the injuries on Friday night. An inquest was opened on Saturday afiernoon, but was adjourned to procure evidence.

Mrs Alice H. Hay don, wife of a po«b office official, was found dead in bed early on Friday morning at Christchurch. Sha had been sitffering from weakness of the heart.

! A sad fatality occurred near Ngapara on Friday evening, the news of which cast a gloom over Oamaru on Saturday. MlThomas Reid, jun.. was driving from Ns>apara to his farm at Kokoamo, when his horse bolted down a steep hill, overturning the trap and throwing the occupant on to the fence with immediate fatal results. Tho hors€' was found on Saturday morning near deceased's home, and a search was at onco instituted, the body being discovered by Mrs Reid. Deceased was generally liked, taking an active interest in the Ngapara Masonic Lodge, Duntroon Caledonian Society, and North Otago A. and P. Association, and he was chairman of the meetings addressed by the Premier and Me Herdman. recently at Duntroon. He was ?v son of Mr Thomas Reid, of Ngapara, a native of this district, and 35 years of age. Deceased, who leaves a widow, but no family, was insured against accident to th« extent of £300 with the New Zealand Accident office. An inquest was held afe Ngapara on Saturday afternoon, when a verdict of " Accidental death " was returned.

A boy named Frank Martin, 10 years of age, residing at Oaversham, was admitted to the Hospital on Sunday suffering from a double fra-cture of the right leg below the knee. It appears that the lad was swinging on a gate about 5 p.m. on Sunday, and fell off, his injury being caused by his foot being caught between two of tho pickets.

On Saturday evening a man nameci Joseph Yearburg jumped into the Waikato Tliver, between Ngaruawah'a and Taupiri, to save a horse that had slipped in. Yearburg, who was fully dressed, was drowned. His body has not yet been recovered. At the inquest at Napier on the U!*n Daniel M'AJSstei* the jury returned a v«t.n diet of found drowned, but there was evidence to show how the body came the water. A rider was added to the o' that more lights were required on eastern side of the Iron Pot.

An accident occurred on board the s.s. Wanaka at Napier on Saturda)'. As she was being berthed at the Glasgow wharf tho mooring chain which had been made fast to the wharf parted, one of the ends str :l---ing the boatswain, Alexander Brock, on the legs. Ho was taken to the hospital, where it was discovered on<> of his thighs was fractured and the shin of the other legbadly bruised. He is progressing favourably.

A sad drowning fahilHy occurred at Clive (Hawko's Bay), resulting' in the death of a young woman nanied Miller, 18 years of age, and her brother, a Jad 14 years okl, the children of Mr H. Miller, a small farmer. It is not known exactly how the drowning occurred, but as the footsteps of both have been traced to Ihc rivor dose to which the family lived it would seem as though the- boy had wandered on to th» river bank and fallen in, and that thei sister had seen the occurrence and rushed to Hi>? assistance, and been drowned in trying to rescue him. The steps of the young woman were wide apart, aa though sha had been running. Ihe body of tho young woman was recovered, but so far the body cf th-a boy has not been found.

An elderly widow named Mrs Mary John ston committed suicide at *Wa2nganui yonv on Monday by drinking a solution of match heads.

John Small, a carter, residing in Ladbrooks, whilst driving two horses in a cart over the railway crossing near Prebbleton, was ran into by the 4.45 p.m. train from'

Shristohuroh to Southbridge. Small was brought to -town in a semi-conscious condition. On being examined at the hospital it was found that several ribs were broken, and it is feared be is hurt internally. One of the horses was so badly mangled tnat it had to -be shot. The dray was carried by the engine -about a chain along fire line and then thrown off. Edward Bolton, * widower, 69 years of *ge, was found dead by his brother on Monday afternoon on the floor of the house at Woodhaugh where the two resided. He .tFaB apparently well when hie broiier left to go to work in the morning. A mairied man named George BroomhaU, Who was acting in th© capacity of -assistant •hoeman at the Southland Sawnvlling -Company's Waimeamea mill, tirerpuki, was ■the victim of a distressing accident, which re'suited fatally, on Friday Oast. The wire rope or vnain connected with the hauler broke and entwined him bice a snake, the end striking him with great force and knocking him up against a trea with -tfie a?esult that his head was severely knocked about. It- was, .some time before he could be extricated from the rope and chain, so tightly kad.it wound itself around him. The unfortunate man never- regained consciousness, and died in ihe Riverton Hospital at 5 D'clock on, Saturday moraihg. While cleaning a loaded rifle at Granxty on^Sunday Henry Gooding, a young man, kad his -aTm shattered, rendering amputa- - tibn at tho Wesfcport Hospital necessary. \