CASUALTIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3912, 5 March 1929, Page 24

CASUALTIES.

A MOUNTAIN TRAGEDY. STRATFORD, February 25.

Arthur Ronald Moss, aged 22, the son of the borough electrical engineer (Mr A. E. Moss), was killed on - Mount Egmont early yesterday morning by being struck by a boulder which crashed down the mountain side.

With a party of three others, Moss left at midnight to climb to the summit. The journey was accomplished without incident until 3.45 a.m., when, in the darkness, the party heard a rock coming. The rest got clear, but Moss was struck on the head and so fearfully injured that he died immediately, being carried off the track for some distance below. A relief party was sent from the Mountain House and Stratford, including a doctor. Much difficulty was experienced in getting the body down to the Mountain House, the relief men having to negotiate difficult and dangerous paths. Moss was an experienced climber, and had frequently ascended the mountain.

DEATH AT DINNER TABLE. WHANGAREI, February 25.

When partaking of dinner last evening, Eric Jane, aged about 40, believed to be single, and a member of a bridge gang pn the Whangarei railway staff, fell from his chair and expired in a few minutes. He is believed to have a brother residing at Newton, Auckland.

YOUNG GIRL’S DEATH. AUCKLAND, February 25

On the medical evidence at the inquest on Freda-Lewis, aged 21, who died in strange circumstances of a sudden seizure at her home on January 30, poisoning at first being suspected, the coroner (Mr W. R. M'Kean, S.M.) found that death was due to chronic cerebral haemorrhage.

ACCIDENT WHILE MOTORING.

AUCKLAND, February 25.

A shocking accident while motoring Occurred to Miss Lola Marcia Warn, aged 19 years, when on the road halfway between Whakatane and Taneatua at midnight on Saturday. She now lies in the Whakatane Hospital in a precarious condition, and is not expected to recover. Miss Warn was one of a party of seven who were driven to a picture theatre at Whakatane by George Kiddie, a taxi driver. After the pictures the party started on the return journey, the car being full. When they had gone about four miles they met a motor lorry coming from, the direction of Taneatua. It contained the gear of a roundabout, and was returning from the Opotiki Show. Frederick Edmund Willoughby, the owner of the lorry, was driving. As the car and lorry passed Miss Warn was struck heavily with the pointed end of a tent pole. The driver of the motor car did not realise that anything was amiss until one of the passengers told him that Miss Warn had been struck just below the shoulder and was bleeding profusely. The girl was unconscious, and no time was 'lost in taking her to hospital. It was found that the point of the pole had penetrated fully six inches. Miss Warn came from Waihi about a week ago to take up a position as a waitress at the Taneatua Hotel.

A BABY OVERLAIN.

WELLINGTON, February 25

“ Deaths of this description are fortunately comparatively rare these days, and I do not think I have known of such a ease for many years,” said the coroner (Mr F. K. Hunt, S.M.), to-day, after finding that the death of a seven-weeks’ old infant named Agnes Laurie Davis was due to asphyxia. The baby had been taken to bed by its mother, Susannah Davis, at 10.15 at night, but instead of replacing the child in its cot as usual after feeding it the mother fell asleep. At 1.5 a.m. she woke up and found the child dead in her arms.

SUICIDE WHILE MENTALLY DEPRESSED.

CHRISTCHURCH, February 25.

Reginald Bartram, aged 37, a married man, manager of Distributors’,. Ltd. Christchurch branch, committed suicide last night in his office while in a state of mental depression. A verdict to this effect was returned by the coroner. Letters left by Bartram were not read at the inquest.

DEATH RESULTS FROM BURNS. ROTORUA, February 26. John William Milligan, aged 33, employed by the Afforestation Proprietary, Ltd., at Taupo, was brought to Rotorua last night suffering from severe burns received when he was trapped by flames while engaged in burning-off operations. His clothing was almost completely consumed. He died later.

KILLED BY FALL FROM HORSE. GREYMOUTH, February 26. Philip Lindstrom, aged 55, a farmer, of Moonlight (West Coast), while trying out a young horse on the river bed last evening, -was thrown and killed instantly. CHILD FATALLY SCALDED. INVERCARGILL, February 26. An inquest into the circumstances surrounding the death of Raymond Birchall Blomficld, aged one year and nine months,

who died in the Southland Hospital on Monday from severe scalds, was held before a justice of the peace and a jury of four to-day. A verdict was returned that the child died from shock as the result of being accidentally scalded by slipping on the edge of a cesspit, into which boiling water was being run with a view to clearing the obstruction.

MOTHER SACRIFICES HER LIFE. WAIROA, February 27. A shocking accident occurred near the s-ale yards shortly after 5 to-night, when the infant son of R. Munro, a Public Works employee, wandered on to the railway line in front of his home. The mother, seeing the train approaching, r shed out. too late to save the child, both being seriously injured. The- boy was run over, an arm beine severed, and the mother was knocked over, and was sent to hospital. The condition of each is critical.

GISBORNE, February'2B. Mrs Monro died on arrival at the hospital. The child lost his left arm, and is suffering from shock; but is expected to recover.

COAL MINER KILLED. WESTPORT, February 28. James White, single, aged 65. was killed at 10.30 this morning by a fall of coal in th e Westport Company’s main mine at Granity.

LITTLE GIRL INJURED. CHRISTCHURCH, February 28. Mary Winter, aged 11, was struck by a passing tram car on the Ferry road this afternoon, the wheels passing over one foot and almost severing it. She was removed at onc-e to the hospital where it was found necessary to amputate the leg. Her other injuries are not serious. Her condition is reported to be improving.

A RUNAWAY TRAIN. WESTPORT, February 28. A sensational accident occurred on the Westport-Stockton tramway line this afternoon. A motor engine with, it is understood, about 30 wagons attached, got out of control coming down the incline, and travelled at about 60 miles.an hour. A number of men, returning from work, jumped off, and about 14 were more or less seriously injured. The engine spread over the line in the “ B ” tunnel after travelling about three-quarters of a mile, and pullqd up. Those who remained in the wagons were uninjured. Five of the men were brought to the Westport Hospital. They are:—Donald Hunter, chin and throat wounds (the most seriously injured)," Thomas Nicholls, lacerated fingers, bruises, and scalp wounds; Robert Campbell, scalp wounds and fractured collar bone; James M'Bean, fractured wrist and scalp wounds; Archibald Miller, lacerated- fingers. ACCIDENTALLY DROWNED. Mr J. R. Bartholomew’, S.M., sitting at Port Chalmers on February 25 as district coroner, held an inquest concerning the death of Samuel William Jarvis, who was drowned near Quarantine Island on February 19 through the capsizing of a boat. Mr A. C. Stephens was present on behalf of the Harbour Board, and Sergeant M'Rae represented the police. Charles Winchester Fountain, bank clerk, Kew, Dunedin, gave evidence regarding the finding of the body. John Hines, labourer, residing at Shortland street, Caversham, stated that he and David Harris were the two men in the boat with Jarvis when the accident occurred. The pile-driver was then about half a mile on the Dunedin side of Quarantine Island. They were running out the mooring anchors in the row boat. One anchor had been put out and they were putting out the second one. In put- | ting the second anchor overboard it fouled the gunwale, the chain attached to it jamming it. There was a strong ebb tide running and the water was choppy. The water slopped into the boat, w’hich sw’amped and sank. Meanwhile the three occupants had been hurriedly undressing and had got off their heavy sea boots when the boat went down. Witness had unloosed his overalls, which were dowm about his knees. As the boat went down the other men swam clear. They could all swim, deceased being a healthy man and a strong swimmer. Witness was handicapped by his overalls. He saw.his two mates swimming about 15 yards away. Harris spoke to witness. The deceased ■was then swimming strongly. Witness did not see either of them again. The boat came back to the surface and he got hold of it and managed to hold on until rescued by Captain Smith, of the s.s. Aurora. Witness was then too far through to notice the others. The boat had been used hundreds of times previously for similar'work and was in good order. There were no lifebuoys or jackets in the boat. It had not been the practice to use them on such jobs. He had never heard of any instructions in regard to the use of lifebelts. The coroner remarked that there seemed to be a possibility of a boat employed at such work being capsized at ■ any time.

To Mr Stephens, witness said that Jarvis was the foreman of the job and witness took orders from him. The deceased had been engaged at that class of work for the past 25 years, and witness had also been at it for many years. He had never known an anchor to jam before. He did not Know of a lifebuoy* on their pile driver, but there was one on the other pile driver. Witness believed he did heir something about lifebelts once. David Harris, giving evidence, endorsed what the previous witness had said. Witness swam to the nearest pile and got hold of the ladder attached to it. After leaving the submerged boat, he saw deceased swimming after him and about 30 yards behind. He did not see him again. The deceased had removed his sea boots and

overalls when the boat swamped. It was not a practice to have lifebelts or lifebuoys in the boat at that class of work. Witness had not heard of any instructions about such life-saving appliances. To Mr Stephens.: Witness saw deceased break one of the oars in the boat, endeavouring to get the anchor overboard. Witness did not see the other oar.

Mr ■ Stephens pointed out that if the men had not used the : oars when the boat sank they would not have used lifebelts, had such been there.

David Sinclair Mason, assistant engineer to the Harbour Board, said that he supplied Jarvis with a lifebuoy for the pile-driver at the breastwork in Dunedin last September, when the punt was being recommissioned. He had a general talk with Jarvis about his duties, and told him of the necessity for carrying a lifebuoy on the pontoon. No instructions were issued in regard to a lifebelt being carried in the boat.

James M'Gregor Wilkie, engineer for the Harbour Board, giving evidence, said the general instructions were lifebuoys must be carried on all floating plant; also that all launches must carry a lifebelt It was the duty of a foreman to take all reasonable precautions. Witness issued the instructions and supplied the requisite materials. Witness had not issued instructions that lifebelts be carried in boats, because they handicapped men working, and there was a difficulty about getting them on in a case of emergency. At one time Mr Wilkie said he had ordered lifejackets, but on reconsideration he thought such jackets would endanger a man in a pile-driving boat, because it would hamper his movements so. much. Witness said he wished to be quite candid in discussing the matter. This was the only case of ■ a pile-driving boat sinking in his experience, and the only case of a boat going down slowly. In this case the’e were two oars m the boat, but no one used them. It seemed to bear out his previous conclusion. Replying to questions from the coroner, witness said that an anchor had to be tipped quickly from a pile-driving boat, and a belt would hamper the movements of the men. tipping it. Witness added that he had never given instructions for life-jackets to be carried in piledriving boats. The coroner said the evidence showed that the unfortunate accident was due to the anchor jamming as it was being put out of the boat. In regard to the use of life-saving appliances, it seemed that the wearing of life-jackets would be the correct procedure, but, after hearing the evidence given by Mr Wilkie, his Worship could not take it on himself to differ from the board’s engineer. It should be noted that this was the only accident of the itind in 25 years. At the time of the gold dredge boom the men were instructed to use life-jackets in the boats, but none was used, the men declining to wear them. The verdict would be death from accidental drowning.

YOUNG GIRL DROWNED.

AUCKLAND, March 3.

A 10-year-old girl named Gladys May Crowley fell from a cliff and was drowned at Shelly Beach this afternoon. She resided in Eden terrace, and had gone to the beach for the day with a girl friend and her brother. The child was missed by her two companions, and they found her body in the water at the foot of a cliff. She had fallen about 20 feet. The Life Saving Club employed artificial respiration without result.

CAR DOUBLE SOMERSAULTS. HAMILTON, March 2.

A car, containing Mr E. Montgomery (hotel proprietor) and Mr Rox Woodward (theatre proprietor), both of Auckland, turned a double somersault when a tyre blew out on the sanded road near Hamilton to-day. Mr Montgomery had several ribs broken and suffered severe shock, and was taken to hospital. Mr Woodward was slightly injured.

FALL FROM A HORSE.

HAMILTON, March 2

Myrtle Ham (18),- of Roto-orangi, Cambridge, was brought to the Waikato Hospital suffering from head injuries as the result of a fall from a horse while riding. Her condition is serious.

LEVEL CROSSING COLLISION. x INVERCARGILL, March 3.

A shocking accident occurred at Kennington on Saturday afternoon when the north-bound train to Dunedin ran down a motor car containing Mr and Mrs Adams, of Bush siding. They were on their way to town. Mrs Adams was killed outright,, and Mr Adams was seriously injured and was subsequently brought into the Southland Hospital, where he died shortly after admission. The car was badly smashed. ,

QUARRY EMPLOYEE KILLED. A fatal accident occurred near Logan’s Point quarry about 11.15 a.m. on Saturday, when an employee named Thomas Black, aged 51 years, met with his death. He was in charge of two trucks, drawn by horses, carrying material from the quarry to the railway siding. When the trucks were close to several other trucks on the line the deceased attempted to detach a chain, but was caught between the buffers of the trucks when they met. It was realised that he was seriously injured, and he was immediately conveyed to the Hospital, but he expired before the institution was reached.

The deceased was. married, and resided at 71 Leith street. ' ■

An inquest ■was held at the Hospital on Saturday evening; Mr H. W. Bundle, S.M., sitting as coroner— Sergeant Boulton- represented the police. James Maurice Palmer stated that deceased was. driving thehorses drawing two loaded trucks. • He was behind the horses and just in front of the trucks

in order to disengage the animals by pulling a chain trigger. He released the horses, and the next thing seen was the deceased trying to shake the chain clear from the front truck. He w’as then seen suddenly to ji mp sideways between the wing trucks and the stationary trucks ahead, but he was caught between the buffers. He was picked up and found to be seriously injured. The left pelvis was crushed and there was a large wound in the abdomen. He was removed to the Hospital without delay. Dr Fitzgerald said he examined the deceased immediately the ambulance reached the Hospital, and found that death had taken place some time previously. The injuries were of a shocking nature.

The inquest was adjourned to a later date to enable the deceased’s relatives to be represented if necessary. , The deceased had been employed at the quarry since last November, and was looked upon as a steady, reliable man.

ELDERLY CHINAMAN’S DEATH. The superintendent of police has been advised that a Chinese named Gim, 70 years of age, died at Lawrence last Friday night. The deceased had resided in the Chinese settlement for many years. Dr Sutherland gave a certificate which stated that death was due to natural causes, and an inquest was not considered necessary.

UNUSUAL ACCIDENT. In giving his verdict at Gore in the inquest on the body of Mrs Nellie Holland, killed by the upsetting of a motor car at Stony Creek, near Balclutha, on February 16, the coroner (Mr H. J. Dixon, S.M.) said that all the evidence pointed to a most unusual accident. The drivers explanation did not show what happened or how the accident occurred, and there were no outsiders who saw the accident. There was no evidence of any neglect on the part of the driver (M. M. Robertson), but there was no explanation as to how the car did turn over.