CASUALTIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3489, 25 January 1921, Page 52

CASUALTIES.

~l he b ,°dy of Samuel Tait O’Brien, aged 00, a labourer, was found in Oakleigh Creek, Avondale, on the 16th. He had been missing since January 4, and then disappea red from a quarry. He was last seen brandishing a knife. His body bore cuts and evidences that the arteries of the legs “ad been opened. A single man named Charles Farnsaiouth. aged 66, was found dead ill his house in i anmure road, Otahuhu, on the 16th, sittmg in a chair in the kitchen with a gas tube in his mouth. Death had evidently occurred the previous evening. Wni Richards, over 40 years of age, a married man with five children, collapsed bowling pavilion at Invercargill on the loth He entered the pavilion to get his bowls,-' and five minutes later a club-mate noticed him lying across a form, a doctor was culled, but Richards died before he arrived. Iho deceased had suffered from heart trouble for some years. An inquest on the body of Frederick \v utkins, who was drowned while attempting to cross the Molyneux River to Manuka Island on December 23, was held on. the 14th inst. at Stirling. Constable \Yeir received a telephone message from Mr ”• Weir, of Stirling, that a body was caught m some willows near liis property, constable V eir arid Constable Turner, of Kaitangata, at once proceeded to the place, and recovered the body, which was in an advanced state of decomposition. John Cameron, farmer, North Balclutha, gave evidence that deceased was a labourer employed by him, arid on December 23, 1920, he was crossing the river at Manuka Island in a dray with two horses. When crossing the river deceased said lie knew of a mark, so he attempted to cross at that place. He got into difficulties when in the water, and witness cried out to him to loose the leader. Deceased then went back about half a chain and said he would give it another trial with the one horse, having unyoked the leader. lie made the second attempt with the single horse before witness could stop him. Deceased pulled into the deep water, and was swept away. Deceased did not attempt to swim, as far as witness could see. lie next saw deceased about 50 yards down the river from where he first saw- him. A verdict of “Accidentally drowned” was returned. Joseph Woodward, aged 15, was admitted to the Wellington Hospital, suffering from concussion of the brain. When crossing the street at an intersection he was knocked down by a motor car.

The inquest was reopened at Hastings on the 20th concerning the death of Mrs Elizabeth Ilasketh, who was drowned on January 3 as the result of a motor ’bus going over the bridge into Kararnu Creek. Reviewing the testimony, the Coroner said the evidence was in the direction of showing that all due care was taken. Edna Hart, aged 14 years, had behaved very creditably in rescuing the baby, and leturning into the water and rescuing two other children. She was a brave girl, and was to be commended for her action. The Native, P. H. Tomoana, who undressed and entered the river to assist, was also to be commended. His verdict was that death was due to drowning, caused through a ’bus accidentally falling into the river owing to the blocking of the steering gear. A. man named Maurice Begley was struck by a train while crossing the line on a bicycle. He is now in a Hastings hospital, in a critical condition, with injuries to his head. A lad named Bob Hutchinson, of Christ’s College, Christchurch, fell from a horse while riding near Masterton. He sustained severe injuries to his head, and is in a critical condition. Richard Winter, 15 vears of age. whose parents reside at Newtown, was drowned on the 21st inst. at Rona Bay. The deceased and other lads were spending their holidays at the seaside resort, and went for a row in a small dinghy. When returning the boat struck a rock close to the shore and capsized. The other lads managed to scramble ashore. Winter was drowned in 10ft, of water. The body was recovered. An accident with fatal consequences orcurred at the lluntlv railway crossing, when James Hamilton was run down by the Ma-'n Trunk express from Wellington. The express was promptly pulled up and Dr Cuthbeit, of Huntly, was called in. Hamilton was unconscious, having received a severe gash on the head, ana his left leg was completely severed by the engine, while his left arm was badly crushed and broken. Arrangements were made by the Railway Department to have an ambulance in waiting when the express should arrive at Auckland, and the injured man was taken to the Auckland Hospital, but 20 minutes after his admission he succumbed to his injuries. The deceased was a single man, 24 years of age, and resided with his parents at Hakanoa road, Huntly. He was a blacksmith bv trade. Douglas M’Kenzie. aged 11, was instantaneously killed by lightning at Whangaroi on t-li'e 22nd. A motor car driven by a Wanganui resident and containing a lady passenger ran full tilt into a goods train at the Aramoho crossing about 6 p.in. on the 22nd. The ear was badly smashed, but the occupants escaped with a severe shaking. Eye witnesses declare that it was a miracle that those in the car were not killed, and they attribute their providential escape to the remarkable presence of mind shown by the driver, whose clever handling of the car at a ci'itleal moment alone prevented a fatality. An inquest was held into the circumstances attendino- Tie death of Alfred Zurcher, farmer, of Toko road, who died at the Stratford Hospital from injuries received as a result of the premature explosion of a charge of gelignite. Deceased's brother slated that he heard the report, of the explosion, and hurried to (be scene, where he found his brother lying about a yard back from a log. covered with blood. ITis theory was (hat the deceased was pushing the detonator into a charge when it exploded. A verdict of accidental death veas returned.