ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES

Southland Times, Issue 17231, 30 December 1912, Page 5

ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES

(Per’ United Press Association). TAVO ACCIDENTS AT THAMES. THAMES. December 28. The condition of Frederick Arns the man knocked down by a horse at the Thames races, is more serious than first anticipated, and he is still unconscious, suffering from a fractured skull and concussion of the brain. A native named Puke received injuries to his head by falling from a tree, and he also broke an arm. A PATHEIC MESSAGE. AUCKLAND, December 28. Written in pencil in a scholarly hand, the Devonport police received a pathetic letter by the mail yesterday, which the police believe to be genuine. It reads as follows: — "To all whom it may content, c/o Police, Devonport. "I have been down about six weeks, I think, wandering about, sleeping anywhere, and well, not living, only existing anyhow. But my poor head is so very funny, I don’t know what I am saying half my time. I have only once lasted meat for the whole time. 1 did try hard 1 to get on, and put myself right again, but J could not get on. and all the time 1 tried to put on a cheerful face, I feel quite sure that I would bo able to pull round, but what did me was I was promised a very good job by a man who holds pretty well the highest position in Auckland. But then he took it and gave it to another fellow. God forgive him and me too. lam sorry to give all this trouble to anyone. May God, the Allforgiving One, have mercy on me. I hope my body will be found soon. My head is splitting, and I can hardly crawl about. Xmas Day, and God help me! — J. J. Burrows.” The Devonport police are making inquiries. TRAIN FATALITY. TIMARU, December 28. The inquest on Mrs O’Connor, who was killed at a railway crossing on the 20th inst., has been concluded. A youth, a son of deceased, who was driving the trap, said that it was raining and- a breeze was blowing towards the train. They had their heads down against the rain, and neither saw nor heard the train till they were 10 or 15 yards away, with the result that the engine struck the vehicle. A verdict of accidental death was returned, no blame being attachable to anyone. THROWN FROM A CART. PAHIATUA, December 28. Thomas Donald MacFarland, aged 13, son of the chairman of the Ballance Dairy Company, was thrown from his father’s cream cart this morning near Konini factory while returning home. The wheel passed over his nedk and head, and death was Instantaneous. The cart collided'with a gate-post, THE RESULT OF "FOOLING.* ASHBURTON. December 28. A nasty and painful accident befell one of the senior cadets named Mustard, of Kaikora (Roslyn) one of a squad of senior cadets, who were on a special train returning from the Christchurch military tournament this morning. It appears that the cadets had in their possession a number of blank cartridges, which they were “fooling” wKh'in the carriage, and that when near Rakaia one of the boys failing to. get a reply to a question from Mustard thrust his rifle between the latter’s legs and fired off a blank cartridge with which the weapon was loaded. At the shock Mustard, immediately fainted, hut soon recovered. His clothes were badly burned, but the extent of bis personal injuries are unknown as the services of a doctor were not asked for. Some of the cadets appeared rather “merry” as they passed through. DEATH BY DYNAMITE. WESTPQRT. December 28. A man, name unknown, blew his head off, apparently with dynamite, on the footpath opposite Dr Hallwright's residence at 11 a.m. SEVERELY BURNED. DUNEDIN, December 28. Agnes Ewert, aged 16 years, who was admitted to the Dunedin Hospital on May 17 last suffering from severe burns received while lighting a fire at Owaka, died in the institution yesterday. RUN DOWN BY A MOTOR CAR. WELLINGTON. December 28. A child of four and a half years, named Philip Gore, who was run over by a motor car yesterday afternoon and severely injured about the head, died this morning. CHILDREN SUFFOCATED. DUNDEE, December 26. The bodies of the four children who were buried in their home by the collapse of the walls of a jute warehouse on Christmas Eve have been recovered. They had died of suffocation. DEATH FROM BURNS. ADELAIDE, December 28. ■A man named Reid was dressed as Santa Claus when his long beard took fire, which spreak to his clothing. He was so severely burned that he succumbed. BATHING FATALITY IN QUEENSLAND. ATTEMPTED RESCUERS DROWNED. BRISBANE. December 28. Received December 2S>, 5.5 p.m. A girl named Hobbs got into difficulties in the surf at Southport. Three young men in turn went to her assistance. and all were drowned. Hobbs was rescued. The names of the drowned men arc ■William Wilson, Arthur Brookes, and Stanley Chapman.