CASUALTIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3333, 30 January 1918, Page 19

CASUALTIES.

• An elderly woman named Annio O'Shaughnessy, a resident of East Invereargill, was taken to the hospital on 'the 18th suffering from severe burns, particularly on the upper part of * her face. It appears that sho was carrying something which was alight, and fainted while sho had it in her hand. She fell on to a mat which caught fire, and the fire caused the injuries. So serious were the burns that the patient died late on Friday night. Deceased apparently met with her accident on Thursday evening. Sihe lived by herself and her plight was not discovered until the following day. While bathing in the Wanganui River near Castlccliff' on the 23rd inst. two girls— Phyllis Walker (16 years of age) and Ida Becker (10 years)—were drowned. Phyllis Walker, who could not swim,, got out of her depth, and Ida Becker, who could swim a little, tried to save her, but both sank together. Three young girl companions could not render any assistance, but ran screaming for help. A number of men working in the locality went to the scene, but the spot where the girls had disappeared could not be definitely located. Dragging operations were carried on for about an hour, and both bodies were recovered from a deep hole where there was' a depth of over 10ft of water. Artificial rcsphv.tion was tried unsuccessfully. Ida Beck-jr was an only child. A married man named Alexander M'Leod, who resides at 74- St. Andrew street, was admitted to the Hospital on the 23rd suffering from injuries received while working on a wharf at Port Chalmers>. In shifting a piano his foot was crushed in the railway points, and a passing truck struck him, causing a fracture of the right leg. At Okuru on the 23rd a settler named J. Haveldt attempted to shoot a hawk with a pea-rifle. The charge failed to explode. He then threw the rifle at the bird, killing it. The concussion against the tree caused the charge to explode, the bullet striking Haveldt in the left wrist, necessitating a 200-mile ride to the nearest doctor. A boy named Allan Alexander Campbell was drowned at Nugget Bay about 1 p.m. on the 24th inst. The deceased, who was_ 12 years 8 months old, with a companion named Denniston (aged 10 years), and a young lady, Miss Quin, went for a bathe near Campbell's boardinghouse. There was a strong backwash, which caused the boy to get into difficulties. Miss Quin very pluckily went to his rescue, and managed to grasp one of his legs, but, though she made heroic efforts to get him ashore, she became exhausted, and had to relinquish her hold. The deceased lad and his mother were staying at Nugget Bay for a holiday. The boy s father is manager of the National Bank at Gore. The body was recovered shortly before 4 o'clock, being washed ashore 10 chains north of the spot where the fatality occurred. An inquest will be held at Owaka to-day. An accident with a fatal result occurred in North street on Tuesday, 22nd inst. (says the Oamaru Mail}., whereby a lad of 11 years of age, named James William Young, and residing with Mr Alex. Johnston, of the North road, lost his life. In company with three other lads, he was indulging in the common practice of riding downhill in a "dobbin," pulling the conveyance to the top of the hill and allowing it to run down. In coming down the hill on one occasion the *' dobbin " struck a- lamppost, the impact throwing the boy forward head foremost, the top of his head striking the post. The boy was taken into Mr Ferris's residence, and Drs Orbell and Scott summoned, who immediately ordered his removal to the hospital. The injuries to his head, however, proved fatal, and he passed away at midnight. The body of a man, anchored to the bottom by an iron cog wheel, was recovered from Auckland Harbour near a wharf on the 25th inst. by a diver. It is believed to be that of John Jones, aged 47, a former harbour board employee, who disapeared in November while waiting trial on a charge of threatening behaviour. An explosion in the Taumarunui generating plant caused injuries to the manager. As the gasometer gradually emptied next clay, the top fell in, and the town has been in darkness for four nights, and some weeks may elapse before repairs are effected. The gas used is generated from benzine. The, manager's injuries are not serious. A youth named Robertson was killed at a dairy factory at Glen Oroua on the 25th inst. He became entangled in some shafting, and was carried up to the ceiling, which he struck with considerable force. When picked up his neck was broken. He had been employed only throe days. An accident occurred at the Styx railway crossing, Canterbury, on the 25th instant, a motor car containing five persons colliding with the north-bound train. The driver, James Ashworth, aged 73, a farmer at Saltwater Creek, escaped with a few scratches, and his three adult daughters received cuts and bruises. Mrs Ashworth, aged 74- years, and her three daughters were taken to the Christchurch Hospital, where Mrs Ashworth died soon after arrival. Ono daughter (May) was suffering from severe injuries to her leg, and an operation was found to bo neceesary. Elizabeth received injuries to her chest, and Jane to her arm. These three are progressing favourably. A middle-aged man named Frederick Morgan slipped and fell on the" pavement while on his way to Walker's Private Hotel on Saturday His left arm was broken above the elbow, and he was removed to tho Dunedin Hospital, where he is now progressing favourably. When a party of motorists was coming down London street on Saturday night one of the tyres came off the car, which capsized, throwing the four occupants on to the roadway. John Bi-oderick, one of the number, met with injuries, and was taken to tho Hospital in an unconscious condition but he is now progressing satisfactorily. Thomas Barry, a son of the famous Captain Jackson Barry, died in tho Dunstan Hospital on Saturday morning, as the result of injuries received while mustering

on Mr Spain's station at Earnscleugh Flat. The deceased was riding a horso in some rocky country on Thursday, when he was cither thrown from tho animal or fell off. A doctor was obtained from Alexandra, and the injured man was conveyed to the Dunstall Hospital. Mr Barry was about oO years of age. Ho leaves a wifo and' a daughter. He had resided at Clyde for many years, and was at ono tiine dredgemaster of tli3 Unity Co.'s dredgp. Elizabeth Galloway, aged 22. was drowned whilst bathing on tho Waikanae Beach, near Gisborne, on tho 27th. Two other girls had narrow escapes. The girls were caught by the undertow. A fatal accident occurred on the Evans Bay road, Wellington on the 27th. A man named Harrison was driving in a trap, wnen his horse became unmanageable and bolted. He was thrown from the trap, and sustained injuries to his head and shoulders. Ho. was admitted to tho hospital, but tho injuries were so severe that ho died at 3.45 p.m. The deceased leaves a widow and large family. A motor car and tram collided at Island Bay. Tho car contained Mr and Mrs John Whatton, their children, two adult friends, and a driver. Mrs Whatton had a shoulder injured and a baby received injuries to its hoad, and was removed to the hospital, where it was operated on. Charles Beel, aged 11 years, and residing at 31 Cavson street, St. Kilda, injured tho tendons of one of his feet on Monday through walking on a piece of tin at a refiSse. heap, xie was admitted to tJi-o hospital. By the fall of a large stone on Monday at Logan's Point Quarry, where he was working, John Smith, a middle-aged marrieel man, suffered a fracture of the left leg,! and was conveyed to the hospital. At Berwick last Thursday Mr Stephen Oliver Battersby, land agent, fractured his ankle, which will force him to lay up fo? some time. Mt J. K. Bartholomew (coroner) held an inquest on Monday at Port Chalmers on ths body of John Curror, a boilerma'kcr. who died at tho Cottage Hospital on Sunday as a result of injuries received on Friday, while working on a steamor at Port Choi* mers. The verdict was in accordanco witl» the medical testimony of Dr Borrie, thai death was due to the injuries accidentally received. A young 6inglo man named Robert employed at the Taratu Coal Mine, was ad* mitted to the Hospital on 'the 28th inst. in a semi-conscious condition, suffering iron* shocking injuries sustained at Taratil through collision with the 4.5 p.m. traini from LoveU's Flat. From the information l available it appears that Reid was cycling! along the railway line, head down, against 4 fairly strong wind, when tho coal train from Lovells Flat, with tho tracks running firsts struck him. several trucks passing over his body, which was badly mangled. Dr Brown. Kaitan.gata, was summoned, and the unlor* itunate man was conveyed to Dunedin by tho 6.45 p.m. train. At the time of hi admission very slender hopes were enter* tained for his recovery ,_ but during the night ho regained consciousness at "intervals, and at an early hour on Tuesday there was a slight improvement. James Dick Hastio, an able-bodied seaman belonging to the Union Company's s'teamer Kini, single, 20 years of age, .felt into the Buller River on Saturday afternoon, and was drowned. His body was recovered at 2.35 on Sunday morning. Hastia was the elder son of Mr and Mrs Robert Haetie, of Oashmere Hills. He was educated at the South School, Inveroargill. ■Coming of a seafaring stook and haying a strong love of the sea. young Hastio, immediately on leaving school, joined ths Government' steamer Amokura, ' later on transferring to the Tsnion Company's training steamer Aparima as a cadet. On board thai vessel he saw a great deal of transport work during the war. Having undergone sufficient training to qualify for an officer's certificate, he left the Aparima just. before the voyage on which she wai torpedoed off the English coast, and joined the Kini, in the coastal service, with a view of putting in time while waiting to sit for his officer's examination next month.'