SCHOOL BELL FALLS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VI, Issue 1623, 28 April 1919, Page 11

SCHOOL BELL FALLS.

YOUNG PUPIL INJURED. A sc'iool boll extended on a beam from the gable of the Cashmere Hills School fell this morning, seriously injuring Mary Mitchell, the eight-year-old daughter of Mr A. Mitchell, of Hackthornc Road. A number of the children were participating in physical drill whilst the other pupils were at play. In accordance with the usual practice, a boy rang the bell to intimate that the time for work indoors had again arrived. The physical drill class, of which the little girl was a member, lined up under the eaves, and it was then that the bell gave way. The little girl was hit on the left side of the head, and the injuries she received were so severe that she was rendered unconscious. Mr J. C. Prudhoe (chairman of the School Committee), who resides close to the school, was immediately informed of the occurrence, and sent the child to hospital in a motor car. The bell was swinging on a bolt of jiin diameter. There was no cage to prevent the bell from falling. A similar accident occurred several years ago, but on that occasion the bell was partly caught on the woodwork, with the result that it did not fall. i In view of the fact that the bell, which is of considerable weight, was placed at a height of 20ft from the ground, the force with which the bell fell must have been very considerable. The little girl partially regained consciousness when being taken from the taxi-car to the hospital ward, where she was immediately attended by Dr Bennett. Though there arc no definite indications, information received late this afternoon was to tho effect that she may have sustained a fractured skull.