CASUALTIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3334, 6 February 1918, Page 48

CASUALTIES.

Mrs Wilhemina Rebeoca Rasmusscn, aged 59 years,. a highly respected resident of Dargaville, and relict of Carl Jorgen Rasmusscn, who for many years was a licensed victualler in Whangarei and Hobson Counties, was found lying dead on her bed on the 29th. She complained during the afternoon of being unwell, and at 5 o'clock was discovered dead. Her medical attendant certifies to heart failuro being the cause of death. Tho deceased was the proprietress of Belmont Boardinghouse. She leaves six sons, two of whom are at the front, and one daughter. The adjourned inquest on the body of Eliza Martha Ashworth, who died as the result of injuries received in tho railway crossing accident at Styx on tho 26th, was held on the 29th. A verdict was returned to that effect, there being no evidence of negligence on the part of the driver of the engine or the driver of the motor car (the deceased's husband). The coroner added a rider drawing the attention of the local body to a live fence obstructing a view of the crossing, and directing that it should take steps under the Public Works Act to • have it removed. ) An inquest was held before the acting coroner (Mr A. J. Sullivan, J.P.) at Clyde into the circumstances relative to tho death of Thomas Barry, aged 57 years, who met with an accident whilst shepherding on the Earnscleugh Station. After hearing medical and other testimony the jury brought in a verdict of death through injuries sustained through a fall from a horse. . \

W 7 hile Lloyd Cooper, aged two years, was playing at his home at Fairfield on the 29th tilt, a horse strayed into the yard. The boy went near the animal, which kicked him on the forehead, necessitating his removal to the Hospital, where an operation was performed. The patient is making satisfactory progress. A girl named Margery Ethel Gill, aged six-»years, a daughter of Mr Robert Gill, cf Chertsey, met with a fatal accident on her father's farm on the 28th (says the Christchurch Press). A young horse, which was harnessed to a dray, and tied up in a yard, became restive and, breaking loose, bolted through a gateway just as the girl was coming through, and she" was jammed between the wheel and the gate post. She was killed instantly, being badly crushed about the chest. A drowning fatality occurred on Brancepe'th Station on Sunday, 27th ult. (say 3 the Masterton correspondent of the Wellington Post). Shortly before 3 o'clock half a dozen employees of the station "went for a bathe in the dam, about a mile from tho homestead, and containing from 15ft to 20ft of water. One of the men named Mark Kane remained on the bank of the clam for some time after the rest had taken to the water. He told his mates that he could swim, but ho went in feet foremost frtom the springboard, and it was soon seen that he was in difficulties. A chauffeur, named Joshua Teasdale, went to Kane's assistance, and grabbed him by the arm, but failed to rescue him. He made a second attempt, btit this time the man in distress seized him by the waist, and the two sank to the bottom. It was with the greatest difficulty that Teasdale managed to release himself and savo his own life. Kane did not appear again on tho surface. Dragging operations were speedily commenced, but it was not until about 6.50 that the body was recovered. From papers found on deceased's clothes, it appears that he was a single man, 26 years of age. and son of Mr Peter Kane, of Merton. He was in camp at Featherston from July to August, when ho was discharged on leave without pay. Ho had been employed on the Brancepeth Station for about a fortnight, and was assisting with the dipping operations. A youth, while out rabbit shooting at Owaka on the 27th, met with an accident which will prevent him attending work for a few weeks. He was standing on a decayed log, which suddenly collapsed under his weight, with the result that the'rifle was discharged, the bullet penetrating his foot.

A girl named Dorothy Haseldon. nine years of age, was admitted to Wellington Hospital at 2 p.m. on the 31st, suffering from an internal "trouble, and died five hours later. There is reason to believe she had eaten something of a poisonous nature. An analysis of the contents of the stomach is being made. Deceased's younger brother was taken to the hospital for treatment with the same complaint. William Barber, a railway cleric, was drowned while surfing at Lyell Bay on Saturday. Two young ladies, Misses Schniedeman and Wittner, had a narrow escape from drowning while surf-bathing on the Takapuna Beach. Dr Carriok Robertson rescued Miss Schniedeman, and returned for Miss Wittner, whom he got ashore in a heavy sea —an extremely difficult and dangerous task. Miss Wittner was unconscious. Life was restored by artificial means. David Home, agrecl 36 years, was found drowned in tho Methven swimming bath, Canterbury, on tho 3rd inst. Ho leaves a wife and child. The superintendent of police hns received advice from Ranfurly that Lavinia Jessie M'Lean, the infant daughter of Mr John M'Lean, of Patearoa, was killed instantly at 4.30 on Sunday afternoon through beiti* thrown out of a gig. It appears that the horso bolted, and all tho occupants of the gig -were thrown on to the road. Tho child was six weeks old.