CASUALTIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3274, 13 December 1916, Page 47

CASUALTIES.

A man named Henry Barnwell, aged 7?. years, wandered away from the Old People's Home, New Plymouth, on the sth inst., and was found drowned at the breakwater. He had been ill for some time. He came from Adelaide 45 years ago. The adjourned inquiry into the death of E. G. Phillips, of the N.Z. Shipping Company's Christchurch staff, who died as the result of injuries received in a collision with a motor car, was held on the sth. Dr W. li. Simpson, the driver of the car, said he saw the deceased when two feet away, and could not avoid a collision. The deceased had no light on his bicycle. The night was dark, and it had been raining. He was driving at a speed of 10 or' 12 miles an hour. A verdiqt of accidental death was returned. Whilst carting hay at Mr F. Busch's farm, Amberley, on the sth (says the Christchurch Press), William Watkins, in endeavouring to step either on to the horse or dray shaft from a load, missed his footing. His leg went between the horse and shaft, and startled the horse, and Watkins was thrown on to the ground, striking it with his shoulders, causing dislocation of the vertebra. The man, who was 33 years of ago, died on the 2nd inst. On Monday afternoon, 4th inst., O. Te Au, M. Mantell, Ohas. Isaacs, and John Christopher Anglem Waitiri left Bluff for Ruapuke Island in the launch Kainini. When off Dog Island they encountered a heavy easterly, which was causing a nasty jobble, and Waitiri, owing to a severe lurch on the part of the launch, was pitched overboard. Ho was a fair swimmer, but a heavy oilskin coat enveloped his head and crippled any movements with his arms. Being thus seriously handicapped he was_ unable, to strike out, and before ho could be assisted he was drowned. . The launch _ cruised around the spot, but it was not until about an hour afterwards that the propeller, fouling the oilskin Waitiri was Avoaring, indicated the whereabouts of the body, which was taken on board, but life was then extinct. The deceased was 20 years of age, and married.

George Theo. Foote, a married man, aged 28 years, was killed by the explosion of a soda cylinder. He was engaged charging the syphon at his shop, near the military camp at Carterton, when the explosion occurred, killing him instantly. His assistant, a youth, H. Brannigan. was seriously injured. The body of a man, apparently about 60 years, with the hands and feet tied, was found in Wellington Harbour on the 7th. The body has been identified as that of Thos. Kerr, a former patient at Porirua Hospital. At the inquest a verdict of suicide was recorded.

A particularly nasty accident at Gorge road, at about 9.30 a.m. on the 6th, was responsible for the instant death of James King -M'lntosh, a middle-aged man with a family. The Southland Times states that the deceased, who was employed at the Pino Company's sawmill, was engaged with a companion in felling a tree. At the same timo the hauling engine was drawing in a log at an angle and was pulling through a pulley attached to a 60ft tree of about 2ft diameter. This tree was near where the bushmon were at work, and suddenly, without the least warning, it broke off at the ground and fell, smashing Mr M'lntosh to the earth and mangling him horribly. The body of a man named John M'Gregor was found on the 7th inst. in a tworoomed cottage in Lanark street, Balclutha, under circumstances pointing to suicide. The deceased was a drover, a single man, 49 years of age, and lived by himself. Some time ago he fell from a horse, and latterly ho had suffered from a growth on his tongue, for which ho underwent fin operation, and had not. boon in good health lately. He was last seen at 8.30 on Wednesday night, when his niece, Catherine Ludlow, who lived next door, went in to sec him. He was then lying, fully dressed, on his bed, and in answer to a question, said that he was not feeling Tory well. On Thursday afternoon, as he had not been seen about in tho menntime, his niece again called in to see how he was. and found his dead body in a chair, with the head almost blown off. A double-barrelled muzzle-loading gun was lying on the floor in front, of deceased, who had in one of his hands part of a ramrod, tho other haJf lying on the floor, while on the table were powder, shot, and caps for loading the gun. The left barrel of the weapon had apparently been recently discharged. A painful accident happened at Pukekoma, on the 4th, in which Mr F. Lyders, a farmer, lost his ritrht hand. Mr Lyders (says tho Clutha Leader) was working a chaffontter on his property, when by some means his left hand was caught In the machine. While ho was attempting to free it with his right hand the latter was com-

pletcly severed at the wrist. Fortunately Mr Lyders's son and daughter were present, and the- daughter quickly procured bandages. Meantime the arm was held by the chaffc litter, but this prevented tho limb from bleeding to any appreciable extent. Miss Lyders bandaged the wrist, and Dr Stcnhouse was immediately telephoned for. but owing - to being absent at the time, dia not arrive for some three hours. After giving the sufferer medical attention Dr Stcnhouse conveyed him by motor car to Duncdin. The injured man, who is about 65 years of age, is making splendid progress towards recovery. His left hand, fortunately, escaped with a slight cut on the little finger. The dead body of a newly-born child was found In Auckland Harbour with a, string tied round the neck. The indication* lead to the belief that the baby waa thrown into the water practically at its birth.

Patrick Gregan, a married man, about 38 years of age, a machinery agent, while riding a motor cycle collided with an express train at a level crossing at Hamilton and was killed

Plerbort Muir Hanson, a married man,died sudenly at Christ-church on the 3th.At the inquest a verdict of death from heart failure was returned. Mr William M'lntosh, a farmer, of the Waronui district, met with an accident at Roxby's sidinpr. on the company's line, early last week. Mr Roxby and the victim of the aocident had been engaged unloading trucks) of coal. On Mr Roxby'fi return t<> the siding ho discovered Mr -M'Tntoshi lying on the ground, and just regaining consciousness, having injured his headwrists, and knees, owing to the load of coal breaking- away when ho stepped oflE it. He was conveyed homo, and was a. 6» tended by Dr Rosa Collier.

An accident attended by fatal consequences occurred at r\'<- ,, 1b TJ run nor mine on the 4th inst. A r.' named Edward Dnndo was busily fall of stone occurred. <i:i i ho was struck! heavily. It was seen that the injuries* were serious, and tho unfortunate man was all once conveyed to tho Grey River Hospital. He did not rally, and passed away. The deceased leaves a fnm'lv "f four girls and two boys. One sen (Fdwurdj left with the 16th Reinforcement!-., and is serving in the machine pun section. The late Mr Dando was a resident of Rrunnerton for a grcafl many years, and his parents resido «,t .Nelson.

A sudden death occurred at Mosjriol oa Friday. Mr Andrew Frew, a. retired farmer, being found dead in his bed at his reel denec. Gordon road. A widow and a family of eight survive him. The cause- of death was heart failure. An inquest was held; the same day by Mr Bartholomew (coronet). EvYlcnoo was triven by Mrs Frew (widow of the deceased), that iie was 84 vrarg of age, and of late was in feeble health. Thro© weeks ago he had been nttendod bv Dr Sneddinaf. who said he had a weak heart. Ho retired the previous evon'ng :i! 9.30. About 6.50 that morning witness thought ho war. nsl"on, and put the blnnkets aboaS him. At 830 she called him for his breakfast, and found him :n the satr:-" position. Witness summoned a doctor, who pionoimced life extinct. Similar evidence waa given by .Toseph Frederick Frew, son of the deceased. Dr Allan stated that the body was well nourished. From his examination of' the body, and the evidence, he concluded it a case of heart failure. The coroner gave a verdict in accordance with tho medical testimony.

Word "has been received that a man was drowned at Rona Bay, Wellington, on tha 10th, suoposedly while bathing. No details are available.

A distressing accident befell Mr George Grant. C.E., on Wednesday evening (says the Gisborne correspondent of the Ohristchurch Press). Ho was mounting his horso at his residence, when the animal, which was frisky, reared, swerved, ann threw him heavily to the ground. He suffered a fractured pelvis and other injuries of a serious nature, and his condition is considered to b« extremely critical. Andrew Winter, a farmer. 41. of Henderson Point, is reported to havo jumped off a launch on Saturday night. He was drowned. James Fleming. 38 years of age, who was admitted to the Hospital on the sth insfe., died in the institution on the Hth._ The deceased was a married man. living in NorthEast Valley. Ho had a fail from a scaffold about six "weeks ago, but returned to his work, though he complained of severe headaches'. He continued at his occupation till November 28. on which day he went to work, but gave it up after half an hour or so. He was admitted to the Hospital on the sth Just, in a semi-conscious state, and his condition became worse. Thomas Rablvtt died at the Duncdin Hospital on Sunday from pneumonia. He was a farmer near Milton, and on the 3th insfe. he met with an accident there through hia hor«c and trap colliding with a traction engine as a result of which he sustained a fractured collarbone and other injuries. Hewas brought to the Dunedin Hospital, where pneumonia pet i*.