CASUALTIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3755, 2 March 1926, Page 22

CASUALTIES.

AUCKLAND, February 24. William Oroua Whisker, aged 53 years, employed on a farm at Waitoa, near Te Aroha, was found drowned in a ell yesterday morning. He had breakfast at 7.30 and later was missing. Searchers found bis body head down in the well in 6ft of water. February 28. Edward Horlock, aged about 20 years, was drowned off Bean Rock, in Wadena ata Harbour, on Saturday afternoon. He was a member of the crew of the 14-footer Avalon (not the Sanders Cup boat) whicn was participating in a harbour race, when the boat capsized in a heavy sea. The three other occupants of the boat managed to cling on to the keel, but Horlock. who could not swim, disappeared almost immediately. It is thought he must have received a blow on the head when the capsize took place. R E. Fleming, chief steward of the Government steamer Hinemoa, was drowned m Manukau Harbour early this morning. A party of officers were on a cruise in a launch on the harbour and anchored for the night. At about 3 o’clock Fleming got up to fix the ventilator, and as he seemed to take a long time the other members of the party went on deck and found that he had fallen overboard. They saw him swimming against the tide, and pulling up the anchor drifted down near him, but before a rescue could be effected he sank. TAUMARUNUI, February 23. James Grace, an elderly man, who suffered injuries to his spine at the Climbs Sawmill, at Raurimu, on Saturday, died in hospital to-day. February 25. At the inquest to-day concerning tho death of James Grace, who had his~ neck broken and received spinal injuries at a mill at Raurimu on Saturday last, a verdict of accidental death was returned. NEW PLYMOUTH, February 24. A fatal accident occurred at Mount Messenger this morning. A. W. Ogle and his wife left Waitara early for Pukekohe and when turning a sharp corneT of the mountain their car ran off the road and fell about 30 feet. Mrs Ogle was killed instantly. Ogle suffered minor injuries. PALMERSTON N., Februar 24 A miraculous escape from fatal injury was the fortunate lot of the sole occupant of a motor car which was struck this morning by the incoming Auckland express at a level crossing at Palmerston North. The motorist’s view of the line was obscured by a passenger bus, and when just on the metals he got a glimpse of the express rushing on him a few yards away. He opened the throttle in an endeavour to clear the line, but the car was struck just behind the hood, and was swung round, the rear half being pulverised and cut away as if by an axe. The occupant, T. Richardson, an employee of Hodder and Tolley, seed merchants, escaped without the slightest injury, climbing out of the car after the smash. BLENHEIM, February 27. A young man named Les Robinson was seriously injured in a collision which occurred at Lichfield's bridge in tho middle of Renwick road between a motor cycle ridden by him and a bread delivery motor van. Robinson had his leg badly smashed and his hand injured. He was conveyed to the Wairau Hospital. * Newman’s service car, which had been drawn up at the scene of the accident, nlso came to grief. As the driver resinned the journey he apparently fainted, and the car ran into a telegraph polo, aud then through Mrs Lichfield’s fence. The car was moved again on its own power, but was considerably damaged NELSON. February 25. Carl Andrews, aged 13 years, of Ngatimoti, was admitted to the publio hospital with a fractured leg. Ho was holding a rone attached to a horse when the animal bolted, the rope becoming entangled in the boy’s legs, he was thrown to the ground. CHRISTCHURCH. February 25. Just after midnight a Hudson taxi, with several women passengers, crashed through

the railings of Fitzgerald avonue bridge, landing on ita side. Onl yone occupant was hurt, out the car woe badly damaged. February 27. Gladys Xorah Sayers, a probationer narw in the Christchurch Hospital, die! in Cbe institution on February 7 following an operation for quinsey, in which the thetic used was gas. The patient coughed, but could not inhale after the operation owing to a serious obstruction of the pas-4 sage. The operating surgeon, Dr E. L. Beni nett, at once male an opening, but during the time this second operation occupied, the patient had not breathed at all, and when the opening was made she took a very deep breath and drew in some fluid. Restora-> tive measures were adopted, but they were of no avail. All the medical evidence was to the effect that death was due to asphyxia, and the Magistrate found accord* ingly that Miss Sayers died of asphyxia following an operation, and that no blame was attachable to anyone. A MOTOR SMASH. The breaking of the steering gear of a Ford car which was being driven along Bond street at 1 o’clock on Wednesdaymorning had serious consequences. The car ran into a telegraph pole, being reduced to a total wreck. It was so badly smashed as to be beyond repair. Winston W. Aitcneson, a commercial traveller, from Kilbirnie, Wellington, was driving the car at the time, and he escaped with a broken nose. Ellen Haig, who was also in the car received serious iniuries to the head and was removed to the hospital. She is 18 years of age, and resides at 8 Waterloon street, St. Kilda. FATALITY AT Y.M.C.A. BATHS. Norman Bayley, aged 22 years, who resided with his parents at 92 Victoria road, was drowned on Friday in the Y.M.C.A. Baths, Moray place. For some time past, the young man had been learning swimming from the custodian of the baths, Mr Crawford Mackay, and was able to swim a full length. As far as can be ascertained, deceased had gone into the baths during the time Mr Mackay was away at lunch, and was apparently seized with cramp. It was not till about 3 p.m. that anything was discovered to be amiss, and Mr Mackay, whilst making his rounds of the dressing boxes discovered the young man’s clothes in one of the cuticles. ‘ Knowing to whom they belonged he at once sensed that something was wrong, and immediately communicated with the general secretary of the association and the police. On the latter’s arrival, the baths were emptied and the body was found about 12 to 15 feet from the deep end and about five feet from the side. Artificial respiration, and various means of resusciation were attempted, but without avail. This is the second son Mrs Bayley has lost by drowning. At the inquest on Saturday morning, evidence of identification was given by the father of the deceased, James Harry Bayley. He stated that his son had been in good physical health, and was of sound mentality. He had never had a seizure of any description. Witness had last seen his son alive about 1 p.m. on the day of the fatality, when he left witness’s business premises in Maclaggan street after lunch. Deceased did not say that he was going for a swim. He had been learning to swim for about two months. The inquest was then adjourned till this morning.