CASUALTIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3280, 24 January 1917, Page 15

CASUALTIES.

At 2 p.m. on the 13th (says tho South* land Times) Albert Smith", aged 21 years, and employed at Bauchop's sawmill atTokanui, was driving four horses in a trolly loaded with timber from tho mill to tho railway station. As ho was crossing a bridge on tho route the trolly ran off tho lino, and the load, toppling over, struck Smith and killed him instantly. Thomas Smith, while journeying from Palmcrston North to Ashhurst to a butchers' picnic on the 17th, on a motor cycle and side car, in avoiding cattle at Whakaronga, crashed into the Stony Creek bridge. Holies unconscious in tho hospital in a critical condition. Ernest Bartle, an Englishman, aged 24 years, a recent arrival in tho dominion, was drowned off the. Napier Marine parade. Ho could not swim, and a brother, aged 13, could not assist. The body was recovered in 45 minutes, and resuscitation for two hours was unsuccessful. A son of Mr Bennetts, postmaster at Kaitangata, was- kicked by a horse on tho 17th at Port Molyncux. He was brought to Kaitangata in Mr Win. Lane's car, and on examination by Dr Brown ib was found that several of the boy's ribs had been badly fractured. Mr R. W. Leishman, a guard on tho Kaitangata. railway, had tho misfortune to get tho middle, finger of his right hand badly crushed between tho buffers of a truck on the 19th inst., during shunting operations. Tho injured member was eventually set by Dr Brown. Our Alexandra correspondent wires that the verdict of the jury at tho inquest on William Theyers was that death was due to rupture of an artery in tho left lung, probably due to coughing. The body of George Fabling, a member of the Twenty-second Reinforcements, was found in the' Esk River, Hawke's Bay. Evidently it had been there several weeks, as it was decomposed. An Auckland message says that the body of Peter Cornwall was found on the IStli inst. in tho harbour. Prom a letter found on tho body deceased apparently came from Taumarunui. At the inquest a witness stated that ho saw deceased jump off the wharf. Other evidence was to tho effect that Cornwall was suffering from cancer of tho tongue, and had been given a month to live. He left a letter saying that dying was too slow, and thought to bring the end on a little quicker. A Wcstport Press Association message states that Isaac Champion, miner, of Stockton, a widower, 53 years of ago, was found dead in tho cattle stops near Granity on Sunday morning. Ho had been run over on the previous night by a train His right log was smashed from tho knee to tho ankle, and tho left foot and hand mutilated. No one- on tho train was aware of an accident having occurred Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M. (coroner), held an inquest at the morgue on the 20th inst. on the body of Thomas White, aged 52, married, residing at Caversham, who dropped dead in Bond street on the 19th inst. Dr Roberts, who made a post mortem examination of the body, 6aid that he found deceased to bo a muscular, well-developed man. All the organs wero healthy, with tho exception of tho heart, which" was enlarged and the arteries diseased. The cause of death was a sudden spasm of tho heart. William Henry Gillan said that deceased was a wharf lumper. Ho frequently complained of feeling stifled P.nd stuffy. Charles Clarke Tily gave evidence that deceased suddenly fell against a building in Bond street, and then fell on his face on tho ground. Witness went to his assistance. Deceased was then gasping and unconscious. Dr Williams was sent for, but tho man was dead when ho arrived. Tho coroner returned a verdict that death was due to heart failure. William Salter, a middle-aged man, was knocked down by a motor car in Moray place a little before 2 p.m. on tho 20th inst., and sustained a compound fracture of an ankle. He was admitted to the Hospital, where ho is progressing favourably. A gig. containing Mr Robert Green, hi 3 wife, and nephew, was run into by a_ train while they were attempting to negotiate a crossing on tho Foxton side of Motuiti flag station on Saturday night. A motor car and a motor cycle passed Mr Green at tho time, and tho "headlight of the engine was mistaken for a car light. Tho horse was killed instantly, and the gig overturned, throwing the occupants on to the road clear of the line. All wore more or less injured. A special train conveyed the sufferers to th 3 Palmcrston North Hospital. Their injuries are not considered serious. Mrs Hilda Martin died suddenly at her residence, Coughtrey street, St. Clair, on Sunday evening. An inquest was held on the 22nd, and the medical evidence showed that, death was due to cirrhosis of tho liver and kidneys. A verdict accordingly was returned.