TOLL OF THE BUSH.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XL, Issue 13170, 2 September 1913, Page 5

TOLL OF THE BUSH.

SETTLER'S TRAGIC DEATH.

Further details from Taumarunui state that the man Joseph Pfltams, who was killed m Tangitu on Tuesday last, was one of four brothers well-known m that district. The circumstances of the case are particularly sad. The victim of the accidept recently -drew a section of a little over 400 acres at Tangitu, just over nine miles from Waimiha station. He left his wife and six children at Owhango, with the exception of a boy 14 years of age, whom he took to camp with him on their holding, while he was felling the bush and prepairng a home Tor the others. Assisting him m the work was a man Called Hugh Cameron. On Tuesday last they were "backing" a taua tree' 2ft. 6in. through, that is putting a saw cut m it. When the sa-vv was m about 12in. the tree began to split, which is not uncommon with tauas, and the men, knowing there was danger, ran for safety. They had got some 18ft>away when Pittarns tripped on a root. He turned '>"*er m trying to rise, but before he could do so the tree had swung backwards and sideways, and the heavy end of it crash-, ed down on hia chest, pinning him to the ground.

Cameron worked with feverish energy to release his employer by chopping off a portion of the log, the boy meanwhile weeping hysterically and ' holding his father's liand. The latter never uttered a, word.

At last the end of the log was severed, and. rolled off tho victim's chest, but he was found to be quite dead. Then Cameron ran for help, leaving the boy prosjtrate.with grief beside his dead "father. Before long all the settlers over a wide radius were notified to help carry tlie body out, and in pouring ram, this was done by a 'party of 32 men, some of whom had cpme from < Waimiha. The tracks and roads were very bad, and the | work was an exhaustingly difficult one. Before -noon tlie body had been brought to "Waimiha. Thence by the afternoon train it was conveyed to Taumarunui, ] where an inquest was held. Evidence was given by Cameron and the boy, and a verdict was returned to the effect that deceased met his death through accident. The coroner" stated that he would/ lay before the Minister for Public Works the state of the road leading to the section fronv Waimiha, which -was so bad that it took 32 men many hours to carry the body a distance of nine miles. (Per Press Association.) INVERCARGILL, last night. .-•A man named - Walker, a recent arrival, in the district, was killed this afternoon. ' It ' appears that he was engaged in hauling logs with the aid of a traction engine at Donkin's bush, adjacent to Otautau, when a log rolled on the- unfortunate man, crushing his head. MDeath was instantaneous. I