The Glenorchy Fatality

Southland Times, Issue 19185, 24 October 1903, Page 4

The Glenorchy Fatality

From Our Own Correspondent

There passed to the great unknown on the 18th, under most appalling circumstances, one of our oldest men anil earliest pioneers, 'in tho person of refer Wilson, known in his younger days for his size and virility as Peter the Western Ocean. He occupied two rooms of McUride'.-* stone house at tilcnorchy, and sometime on -Sunday week he fell and hurt his thigh, which guve him some pain. Mr Mclvenna. who went to his aid now and then, last saw him., alive on Tuesday evening. .Shortly n'fter the houso was fbiind on fire, and though willing workers were soon there- they could not do anything for a str.ong wind was blowing and water was hard to get Through the rifts in the flames now and again they could see tho poor old fellow Vkneuling on the floor, his body lying over the bed, and slowly burning it" was an awful spectacle ; one that those who witnessed it never saw before, nor wish to see again. At tho inquest a verdict of accidental death was returned, though some are of opinion that- he may have died from some other cause before the tire broke out. He was a Swede and, 1 by his own account. 78 years of age, a strong. upright, honest man, | lately he became very frail and part l.v blind. In his youth he was 'a sailor, anc) in that capacity saw much of tho world. Then he tried his fortune on the Victorian diggings, but was unsuccessful, and after being at various occupations and through strange vicissitudes he came V* New " Zealand and worked his way through the country to this district, where he had lived about .'It I years, al^ ternatelv by woodcutting and mining. A iew years ago he dared tho solitude and toil 'of the mountains prospecting for gold, bm age compelled him to give it up. Always interested in political, social and scientific affaire, he was a flno olti man to converse with, having plenty of anecdotes and information to give tho voting enquirer, though of late his inability to read was a sad misfortune to him. 'And to crown the sad lot of a brave pioneer, who dies a pensioner, it appears that too much reverence was not shown in the burial of his remains. Nol that it matters much how he was buriea. but it seems -strange that in a young country our worthy aged, who have spent 'their lives working in it. should if poor and friendless at death, be burled with a carelessness that is scarcely decent..