CASUALTIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3886, 4 September 1928, Page 28

CASUALTIES.

TRAINER’S FORTUNATE ESCAPE. HAWERA, August 28. A trainer named G. Edgecombe experienced a marvellous escape from severe injury when galloping a young unnamed gelding on the Hawera racecourse this morning. The animal shied at a gate, unseating Edgecombe, whose foot caught in the stirrup, causing him to be dragged over 100 yards by the bolting horse till he got free. Edgecombe miraculously escaped being struck by the flying hoofs, and suffered nothing more serious than a badly-bruised arm and a severe shaking. , A REMARKABLE ESCAPE. GISBORNE, August 28. The three occupants of a car which plunged off the road on Wharerata Hill at night had a remarkable escape. The car turned a complete somersault, and slid 50 feet down bill before its descent was arreeted by a tree. The car was extensively damaged, but, with the exception of one small cut-from flying glass, the occupants escaped injury. INFANT ACCIDENTLY SMOTHERED GISBORNE, August 28. Muriel Ada Morrison, aged three months, was discovered dead in bed alongside her mother at Patutahi this morning. The infant had evidently been accidentally smothered. CHILD KILLED BY SHOTGUN. AUCKLAND, August 29. As a result of the accidental discharge of a shotgun she was carrying, Edith Sagar, aged 10 years, was instantly killed at Warkworth after mid-day to-day. With her brother Ronald the girl had carried lunch to her father, a well-known farmer, who was working at Hepburn Creek about five miles from Warkworth. On the return journey along the bush track she offered to relieve her brother of the shotgun he was carrying. In taking the gun the trigger became caught in a twig, the charge striking the child in the breast.- Death was instantaneous. A LABOURER’S DEATH. AUCKLAND, August 29. A labourer, whose name is believed to be C. Harding, was given casual work on the old museum site in Princes street this morning, and was fatally injured a few hours later. The man was one of a gang engaged in removing a steel girder and timber from a motor lorry. About half a dozen workmen were on the vehicle, and the deceased qnd others were on the ground. It is not clear how the accident occurred, but it is believed that the deceased slipped, and was struck violently on the forehead. He suffered a fracture of the skull, find died in the Auckland Hospital four hours later. The only' clue to the identity of the man'was a receipt in the name of Harding found in his pocket. STOCK AGENT FOUND DYING. CAMBRIDGE, August 29. Charles James Peake, a well-known stock agent, about 55 years of -age, was found in a bedroom of his home at Grey street. Cambridge, about 9.15 last night, with his throat cut. A blood-stained razor was lying about two feet away. Dr Ritchie was quickly in attendance, when the injured man was just alive, but he expired almost immediately. The deceased is survived by a widow and family of two young boys and two girls. CAR’S FATAL PLUNGE. . HAWERA," August 29. That Florence M’Calgum met her death on July 9, in the Manawatu River, as the result of a motor car in which she was travelling plunging into the river, was the verdict at the inquest, which was concluded .this afternoon. The evidence showed tli'at the deceased was the only passenger, in 'a, two-seater closed car driven by her husband. John M'Calgum, a former resident' of Wanganui. After crossing the Manawatu bridge on the Main South road at 2 o’clock in the afternoon the car swerved sharply, and. plunging over a steep bank, was submerged in the flooded river a few yards from the roadway. The driver was rescued . 50 yards downstream, where he was found a few minutes- lat.pr clinging to a tree. Mrs M'Calgum’s body was not discovered

until five weeks later, when it was found after another fresh in the river about -50 yards from the point of the car’s plunge. A mechanic gave evidence that the steering gear of the car was in good order, °

A SUDDEN DEATH. CHRISTCHURCH, August 29 A single man named George M. Clarke years of age, who lived at Mill Road rarm, Styx, dropped dead at 6.30 o’clock tins morning.

A FATAL FALL. a tt • HAS TINGS. August 30. Arthur Heir, aged 42, fell off a ladder while trying to reach the top of the boiler in the engine room at Tomoana breezing Works yesterday. He fell to the concrete floor on his head and shoulders receiving injuries from which lie aied this morning. DEATH OF NURSE. CARTERTON, August 30. Nurse B. Leal, aged 60. was found dead at her residence at Featherston last night. She had been called to a maternity case, and not arriving, was found on the floor after entrance to her home had been forced. BOTH LEGS BROKEN. iv WELLINGTON, August 30. Walter Dryden, aged 12 years, w- admitted to the hospital to-day with his legs broken. He was sliding down a hill at Miramar when his sledge toppled over on him. FRACTURE OF SKULL. T WELLINGTON. August 30. J. H. lord, a clerk, fell off a chair while at work, and suffered a fracture of the base of the skull. CYCLIST KILLED. „ . AUCKLAND, September 2. ratal injuries were suffered bv a labourer. John Smith, aged 33 years, of 43 Chester avenue, Grey Lynn, through being knocked down by a motor van while cycling in Grey Lynn last night. His death occurred at the hospital early this morning. A WRECKED MOTOR CAR. •AUCKLAND, September 1. A wrecked motor car was found against' a fence of the Mental Hospital at Avondale early this morning, having evidently rolled over several times. Bloodstains on the hood indicated that the driver had been injured. The car was a two-seater without a number plate. It was badly damaged. So far there is no information about the occupants or details of the mishap. FALL FROM MOTOR CYCLE. GISBORNE, September 2. Shortly after 9 o’clock on Saturday night two Maoris—Pere Huau Tatene and Bert Pereki—left Gisborne on a motor cycle to attend a dance at Muriwai, Tatene driving and Pereki pillion riding. Nearing Muriwai the machine apparently got off the bitumen surface into loose gravel and skidded, both men being thrown. A passing taxi driver saw the men on the road, and both were removed to Cook Hospital. Tatene. who was injured about the head and hands, did not regain consciousness, and died this afternoon; The deceased was a single man, 37 years of age. He was born in the Waiapu district, and was employed as a French polisher. Pereki was badly injured, but is progressing favourably. DEATH OF MATERNITY NURSE. CARTERTON, September 1. An inquest on the body of Elizabeth Leal, a maternity _ nurse, aged 60, was held before the district coroner yesterday at Featherston, when a verdict of death from fatty degeneration of the heart was returned. The deceased had been called to a maternity case. Her non-arrival caused anxiety, and the police visited the house and found all doors locked. They forced an entry, and found deceased lying dead on the floor, partly clothed. Apparently she had a heart seizure as she was dressing to go to the case. RETURNED SOLDIER KILLED. WELLINGTON, September 2. A returned soldier named Latham Rogers, aged 39, a labourer, fell off a lorry near Kibikihi last night and suffered concussion. He died in the Waikato Hospital to-day. STRUCK BY MOTOR CAR. Nellie Johnston, a single woman, aged 35 years, residing at 48 Stafford street, was knocked down by a motor car in Princes street, opposite the Grand Theatre, on Sunday evening, and received injuries to the right shoulder, which necessitated her removal to hospital. Two other persons —a man and a woman—were also knocked down, but fortunately escaped serious injury. FOUND WITH THROAT CUT. About 6 o’clock on Sunday evening a single man named William Ccuston, aged 50 years, a- ironmonger, was found sitting in an outhouse attached to his residence, 301 Rattray street, bleeding profusely from a large wound in the throat. Dr Strain was quickly summoned, but was unible to do anything for the unfortunate man, who died a few minutes after the doctor’s arrival. The fact that an open razor was found lying on the floor near the body suggests that the deceased took his own life. ; ; An inquest was opened at the deceased’s residence yesterday morning, before Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M.. who brought in a formal verdict of suicide.

The Stratford Post states that the coming summer promises to be a busy time at the Stratford Mountain House. Already all the available accommodation has been fully booked for the six‘weeks of the summer school holidays.