CASUALTIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3278, 10 January 1917, Page 13

CASUALTIES.

A man, giving the name of Patrick Lawson, jumped from the Wanganui-Palmerston North train at Feilding on the 2nd, falling heavily on his head. Ho was seriously injured, and died in tho hospital at 7.55 the same night. The polica kavo received information that the deceased, whom they think was a seafaring man, travelled through from Auckland on Monday night, January 1, and broke tho journey at Marton, boarding tho Wanganui train on Tuesday.

Joseph Maitland, a gardener, 84 years of age, who resides at Clinton, met with an unfortunate accident at his homo on tho 29th, which necessitated his being brought in to tho Duncdin Hospital. Ho was removing birds' nests from tho roof of his house, and had a ladder on a wheelbarrow, which overturned, causing Mr Maitland to fall to the ground. He sustained abrasions on the head and face, but his injuries do not seem serious.

A farm labourer named Andrew John Dickson, aged 34- years, employed on tho farm of Mr John Dickson (his uncle), at Otama, 12 miles from Gore, was found shot through the head on Tuesday, 2nd inst., in the riverbed. A discharged pea rifle was alongside the body. Death ensued later. The deceased had been in ill-health for some time.

Claude Cecil Harris, a railway cadet, stationed at Clinton, got too close to a passing train on Wednesday morning, 3rd j nst., and was struck on the jaw by tho engine. Ho was brought to the Dunedin Hospital in an unconscious condition. About 9.15 a.m. on Tuesday, 2nd, Mrs Crofts, of Morton road, South Invercargill, filled a tub on her washhouso floor with boiling water from the copper. Mrs Crofts left the water to cool, and also left her little son, Frank Morton Crofts, aged two years 11 months, in tho washhouso while she- went in to do some housework. Fifteen minutes later tho mother heard screams, and on rushing out found the little chap in the tub. She immediately rescued him and summoned a doctor, but death took place before medical attention was forthcoming.—Southland Times. Trevor Hirst, aged six years, and Waitati Rewha, aged four years, were playing on a launch alongside tho Russell wharf. An hour later the dead bodies of both were found floating in the harbour. James M'Murchio, aged 59 years, belonging to Washdyke, was found dead in a water race on the road at Arowhcnua on the 3rd. He was travelling with a stallion. A bruise was found on his head, and it is surmised that he wag kicked, as his two horses were loose. He leaves a widow, one son, and one daughter. Tho police have received information that Benson Blackburno, a married man, residing at Sproydon, and employed by tho Waimairi County Council, was electrocuted on Clyde road, Fendalton. Ho fell heavily from tho wires, receiving a fracture of tho base of tho skull. He was dead when ho was picked up. A man named George Clough, aged 65 years, was brought to tho Dunedin Hospital on Saturday from Port Chalmers suffering from injuries -through being knocked down by a raiiway truck while working between tho lines. Clough, who is a joiner in tho employ of the Union Company, was severely injured. The wheels of the truck passed over his left leg, which was amputated after ho was brought to the Hospital. Private Andrew Scoullar, a member of the 22nd Reinforcements, while handling a loaded riife on Saturday morning, had the misfortune to touch tho trigger, the result being that the bullet passed through his right foot. Ho was taken to tho Dunedin Hospital, where it was found that tho wound was not of a serious nature. Private Scoullar was on leave from Trent ham, and was to have returned to camp on Saturday. Mrs H. tV. Hartree, of Ngaroto, was driving a motor car on tho Puketitiri road, when it skidded and overturned, with tho result that she was fatally injured, dying at Napier on tho Bth inst. The deceased lady was well known in Hawko's Bay. Bertram Robert Wat-kins, 23 years of age, a railway cadet, whose parents reside at Hamilton, was drowned whilst bathing in tho Waimata River, near Gisborne, on tho 7th inst. Joseph Hope, employed by Mr John M'Kinnel, farmer, was drowned while bathing in tho Waikaia River, Southland. Harry Smith, second steward of the Mokoia, who had been ashore, on short leavo, and was staying at the Marino Hotel (Port Chalmers) was found dead in the bathroom on tho Bth inst. Ho was noticed going into the room about 5 p.m., and on tho door being burst open half an hour later was found hanging over tho bath. Dr Borrie was called in, and pronounced lifo to be extinct. The deceased man, who had be; n subject to epileptic fits, had been previously attended by both Drs Borrio and Hodge. As Dr Borrie is prepared to give a certificate as to tho causo of death, an inquest is not deemed necessary. Smith was about 28 years of age, and had no relatives in the dominion.