CASUALTIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2691, 11 October 1905, Page 48

CASUALTIES.

Mr J. M/'Dowcll, of Patearoa, accidentally shot himself in the leg with a revolver on the- 21st ult. (says the Mount Ida Chronicle). While sitting reading in his hut he saw some mice run across the floor and got out his revolver to have a shot at them. The noise caused them to disappear, and Mr M 'Do well returned to his reading, holding the cocked revolver in his hand in readiness for their reappearance. In a moment of forgetfulness he pressed the trigger, and the result was that the bullet lodged in the inside of the left knee just belo.y the joint. As the doctor could not fincl it, he proceeded to Dunedin for examination under the X-rays. Ella Rochdale, about 16 years of age, was knocked down and rendered unconscious in Princes street at about I p.m. en the 2nd inst. A young man named C H. Crocker, at the hour named, was proceeding north on his bicycle, and as therei were a number of persons in the- s-treetway at the intersection of High and Princes streets, he states that he rang his bell several times, but without attracting the attention of the girl Richdale. At the time of t-h© accident the girl was proceeding in a southerly direction towards the Stock Exchange, and when Quito close to , her Crocker states that he tried to avert a collision by swerving sharply to the left, but Miss Riohclale, who then saw the bicycle for the- first time, evidently became alarmed, and swerved in the same directioQ^ and the bicycle collided vigitb her.

The girl was knocked down and rendered unconscious as stated, and the cyclist was thrown over the handlebar of his mach'ne, but escapsd without injury. Miss Richdale, whose parents reside at Ofcag-o Heads, was taken into the shop of Mris. S. Bannister, whore i=.hei was shortly afterwards attendee! by Dr Marshall MacdonaM. The injuries sustained are not sup-posed to be of a serious nature, and after receiving attention Miss Richdalo recovered sufficiently to be able to proceed in a conveyance to the horn© of a friend at Caversham Ri*-e. The cyclist, after picking himself up, rendered all the assistance he could to the other party to the mishap. A fruit hawker named John Biauman and a woman named Mary KeJliher were stabbed in a brawl at. Masterton on the 2nd insl. The former received several wounds on th" arm, and the latter a wound under the, left ear. Tho injuries, however, are not serious. An elderly man, Alexander Smith, was arrested and charged vvitn the offence.

A Wuodville telegram states tha,t Mr Wiihami Meredith, a very old resident of the Woodviile district dropped dead while digging has garden on Wednesdiy afternoon. The cause of cka'th is supposed to be heart disease. A boy named Harold Aitken fell against a piece of wire in a fence at Gore on Sunday, and the point of tho -wins pierced the corner of his right eye. It is feared that he will lose the sight of the eye. William Hcthemifcton had a severe experience whilst going to an Auckland creamery. At Mangaiti crossing a ballast train ran into his waggon and smashed it up. Tho horses were injured. Hetherington was thrown out. and was taken home in a very dazed condition, suffering from concussion of the brain. Hetherington had a marvellous escape from more serioua injuries, as he was thrown against a post. A fatal accident occurred on board tho barque Dunblane, lying at the Thames completing loading timber. A lad named Blisha Sangrada, a native of Mauritius, was aloft furling a sail, when he missed his hold and fell to the deck, striking his head on the anchor. He never regained consciousness, and died of concussion of the brain. At tho inquest a verdict to that effect was returned.

Joseph Jacotsen, well known in Nelson niinins? circles, and especially in connection with the Hidden Treasure mine, was found drowned near Tafcaka on Sunday evening. Apparently death was the result of tho capsizing of a flat-bottomed beat in which he was sailing 1 . He leaves a widow and grown-up family. ; Philip Edward Butters, aged 31 years, a. fanner at South Hillend, is in the Southland Hosv>ital as the result of an attempt to commit suicide by cutting Ms throat. His condition i.s somewhat critical.

John Kiddie, employed in a Carterton (N.1.) sawmill, tripped while endeavouring to get out of the way of a, falling log, and fell on the edge of an upturned axe, which severed all the sinews of the arteries of the forearm.

Herbert O'Brien, a tram conductor, who was injured at football by accident a week ao-,- ,it Auckland, died in the hospital on Saturday. Henry Alexander Warren. aersd 45, manager of the Wsipukurau branch of tha Bank of New Zealand, was found drowned 1 in tho harbour on Frida,/ under circumstances whicii point to suicide.' Deceased had been in ill-health for some time, worrying oveir failing eyesight, and was on a month's leave of absence. He was missed by his wife about 8 o'clock in the morning, wad was found drowned an hour later.

Two further accidents were reported from, the Ornona, Hawke's Bay, on Friday. One casa was that of James Taylor, aged 50, who had his log broken by a slip. Gangs of men carried him all night 15 miles, over bush tracks, and thence drove 25 miles to town, which was reached 26 hours after the accident hapened. There is great necessity for th© erection of the telephone which has been authorised by the Government, but which so far has not been put in hand. Large numbers of men are employed on tho co-operative works in the district, but owing: to fhe number of accidents and the distance to medical aid, great difficulty is being experienced in filling freeh gangs.

An old man nam«d Scully was found dead! on Sunday in a hut where ho had been liviug at St. Alhans, Ohnstchurch. The four-year-old daughter of Mr Donald M'Doiiald, Rosstowr, West Coast, was. severely burned <n Friday by falling '.n burning bush. She died next morning.

A nasty accident happened just about 5 o'clock on Friday to Mr M'Lay, of tr-e Hartley and Riley dredge. He was removing a. dredge bucket, when the tackle gave way, and the corner of the bucket struck; him between the big toe and instep, and made an ugly bruised wound. On inquiry from Dr Morris he stated that so far he thought there was nothing serious, nor any bones broken, but it was a very bad bruise.

Robert Andersen, a single man, residing in Kaikorai Valley, was received into tho Dunedin Hospital late on Saturday night fviffering from injuries received while leaving his work as a lumper on the wharf. From particulars available it appears that Andersen and some other workmen finished! up at about 11 p.m., and as they were proceeding from the wharves Andersen, whan passing between two railway trucks, iroc jammed, and suffered such injuries to i\\n pelvis #& to necessitate his removal to tho hospital. An examination at the institution, did not reveal the breakage of any bones, but the exact nature of the injures have- noi; yet been ascertained. It is not thought that any serious consequences will result from the accident.

James M 'Crystal, aged 33 years, committed suicide at his father's house afc Clevedon, Auckland, by hangin? himself. At the inquest on Monday a verdict o£ "Suicde whilst temporarily insane was returned.

On September 21 a boy named Stanley Reid, aged seven yeirs, left his home in Wellington to go 1o school. He did r-oti roach his destination, nor did he return home. Search was made for 3iim without; avail until Monday,' when the lad's body was found floating in the harbour. At the inquest on James Scully, found! dead in his bedrocm at Ohristchnreh, a: verdict was returned that the cause_ o£ death, was cardiac syncope, which mighs have been aooslcrated by escaping gas, which was found turned on In the room.

An inquest concerning the death of Helena Williamson was l.eld at her residence, York place, on Saturday morning before- Mr C. C. Giaham audi a jury of six. Fiom the evidence given it appeared that Mis Williamson, v<bo was 73 leaia of. ag_e, was * wiclo.vc a,*-*

liad been eomplaiing of pains in "her chest and shortness of breath for some months. On Fiiday morning she complained of these pains and took some mskKcine, which, gave some relief. About 10 o'clock she was in the kitchen, and her daughter observed hier stagger and fall backwards to tho floor. Hear daughter raised her. and Di Maa-lin was sent for, but Mrs Williamson had died bifoa-e he reached the house. The doctor gave it as his opinion that death, was duo to failure of the heart's e/<lion, and a verdict waia returned to that effect.

Mrs Caroline George, agod 84 years, died Bnmewhat suddenly at her residence, Ravensbourne, on Sunday afternoon. Mrs George had been ailing for some time, and had been attended by two medical men. Not feeling as well as usual on Sunday afternoon, Dr Fulton was sent for, but she had expired before lus arrival.