CASUALTIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3673, 5 August 1924, Page 33

CASUALTIES.

Malcolm Morrison, a widower, about 55 years of age, who resided at Stirling, was assisting a nephew to cut- bluegums at Kaitangata last week, when a tree, which was partially decayed, fell in the opposite directioin to that in which it was secured by ropes, apd he was struck receiving- injuries from which he never regained consciousness. AUCKLAND, August 1. Robert Wera, aged 22 years, was admitted to hospital for a wound in the back. It is stated that others youths were walking behind Wera toying with a rifle, when the weapon unexpectedly exploded. There was an operation last night, and the patient’s condition is serious. August 2. The wounded man died last night. GISBORNE, July 29. As the result of a fall from a viaduct George Henry Williams, a farmer, of Rakauroa, lost his life to-night. As the train was nearing Rakauroa Williams stepped off on to the viaduct, but missed his footing and fell 80 feet to the road. He lay there for over and hour, and was then picked up and taken to a store, but died later. Williams was about 50 years of age. CARTERTON, July 30. An inquest on the body of Frank H. Uushton was resumed at Grey town yesterday. The evidence showed that a party of 10 men took 10 gallons cf beer and a bottle of whisky, besides bottled beer -to a place outside Greytowfi,. and returned at 3.30 on Sunday morning. The deceased then mounted his horse and left his companions. It is surmised that he became sick or fell asleep on the horse, and then fell on the road, striking his head and fracturing his skull. The medical evidence was to the effect that there was no hope for the man whatever had been done for him. Thinking that, deceased was drunk his employer, Mr J. Meikle, with assistance, put him to bed, and left him for some hours. When he could not rouse him for breakfast he sent for a- doctor who pronounced the man to 'be unconscious, and ordered his removal to hospital, where he died a few hours later. A verdict that, deceased met his death by .accidentally! falling from a horse, and fracturing the base of his skull was returned. BLENHEIM, July 29. A returned soldier, Arthur Conway, aged about 30, married, with one child, was cutting the limbs of a large tree at Piclon yesterday afternoon' when a falling branch carried away the ladder on which he was standing, and he fell some distance, dislocating his neck. He died in the hospital three hours later. NELSON, July 29. Mr N. M’Clellan, of the Cawthron Institute staff, met with an unfortunate acci-dent-on the Mount Arthur track on Sunday, whereby his left leg was broken just above the ankle. The accident was caused by slipping when endeavouring to turn some cattle on the track. Other parties were in the vicinity, and gave assistance. Eventually a pack horse was secured, and the injured man was brought down from the mountain track. CHRISTCHURCH, July 29. Henry Woodley, aged 62, married, a retired farmer, late of Eamslaw Station, Glenorchy, Otago, was struck by an engine at Ensor’s road crossing. Opawa, to-night while walking over the line, receiving injuries from which he died on tho way to hospital in an ambulance. August 1. John Charles Pearson, aged 33, married, a labourer in the employ of the Ashburton Power Board, was killed this afternoon as the result of a motor cycle he was riding getting out of control and crashing into a telegraph pole. TIMARU, August 1. Alfred Boulton, aged 14 years, the son of Alfred Ernest. Boulton, of Otaio, fell from an engine drawing a ebaffculter, the wheel of the galley passing over his right leg, rendering necessary an amputation above the knee.

DEATH ON FOOTBALL FIELD. An inquiry concerning the death of Peter Erlar.dson, the young man who collapsed on the football field at Clinton on Saturday, was held by Mr H. J. Dixon, S.M., district coroner, at Clinton, on the 28th. 'The following evidenca was heard: Owen Wilfred Sileock, railway surfaceman, and brother-in-law of deceased, said he last saw deceased alive albout two months ago, when he wa s in his usual health. Deceased was a hairdresser and tobacconist. He had not known him to complain of his health at any time, and did not know that there was anything wrong with his heart. Deceased was 22 years and nine months old. He did not suffer from bad health in any way. John E. K. Brown, medical practitioner, balclutha, gave evidence that he had that morning made a post mortem examination ot the body of deceased. He had examined all the organs, and found evidence of disease of the heart and also evidence that the heart had been causing active trouble recently. The heart as very much enlarged. Tbe active cause of death was dilatation of the heart, following severe exertion. Excessive exertion would have resulted in the same condition at any time. Deceased should have had some signs of his heart trouble. All the other organs of the body were healthy. To Constable Dark: He saw no recent bruises on the body. Jack Thomson, blacksmith, residing at Clinton, said he was playing football at Clinton on January 26, the match being between Balclutha and Clinton teams. Decreased was playing for Clinton as wing im-ee-quarter. He was in good health, and was quite cheery before the match. When the whistle blew for a try witness observed deceased lying on the ground. Lie went to him and asked him if he had got a kick and he replied in the negative. Ihe deceased was carried to the shed, where artificial respiration was carried on He died in the shed. There was no rough play during the match. William Temple Dark, police constable, stationed at Clinton, said he was on duty at the football match between Clinton and Balclutha on January 26. Pie knew deceased well, and saiv him playing in the match. There appeared to be nothing wrong with his health,. During the match ne observed deceased cn the ground, and when he got to the scene deceased was being carried into the pavilion. He was then gasping for breath, and expired immediately. Artificial respiration was earned on for 45 minutes, but without result. Dr Stenhouse, Balclutha, who had been sent for, arrived about 6 p.m., but could only pronounce life to be extinct. The Coroner, after hearing the evidence, returned a verdict that deceased died from dilatation of the heart, following severe exertion. BOY'S DEATH IN HOSPITAL. On July 12, David Edwin Bishopp, 10-year-old son of Mr David James Bishopp, who resides at Manee street, Mornington, was admitted to the Hospital suffering from a fracture of the right femur, which happened through a shaft of a dray falling -on him. The boy died in the institution at 1 a.m. on Saturday last, an inquest being held that forenoon. Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M., sat as coroner, and Sergeant Gilligan represented the police. Dr Kenriok, house surgeon at the Hospital, said that when tiie boy was admitted the thigh was put up in a splint, and it was attempted to correct the position of the bone ends without an operation, but the attempt was not successful. _ An operation was performed bv Dr Linden on Thursday last, with the object of moving the bone ends. The operation was successful, but the patient showed symptoms of shock 12 hours later. Blood transfusion w:as performed at 7 p.m. on Friday. Pernicious vomiting had begun some seven hours previously. The cause of death was post-operative shock, together with prolonged pernicious vomiting. Evidence of identification was given by the boy’s father. The boy had told him that, four boys were playing about a cart which belonged to (Messrs John Mill and Co., and which was in charge of Mr Percy Baxter, who was darting a load of manure at the time of the accident. The boys were holding up the shafts of the cart by one of the props, but the weight came on the shafts, one of which came across his son’s thigh. The three other boys, he understood, ran away when the accident happened, and left deceased lying there with the weight of the snaft resting on him. The • inquest was adjourned until tomorrow.