DISTRESSING OCCURRENCE.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 104, 30 May 1885, Page 3

DISTRESSING OCCURRENCE.

Mr Waterhouse Nicholson Accidentally Killed. Another shocking gun accident occurred on May 25, and resulted in the death of a young man named Waterhouse Nicholson, aged 20 years, son of the late Dr. Nicholson. The scene of the melancholy occurrence was the Mount Eden Railway Station, where a party of young men, of whom deceased was one, had just landed on their way home from a three days' shooting excursion. Mr Ernest Brabazon, another of the party, gave deceased his fowling piece to hold while he was looking after his luggage. A few seconds later the sharp report oi a gun was heard, and Nicholson fell across the rails. He was picked up, and medical assistance sent for. Dr. Lawry was immediately in attendance, and bandaged the wound, which extended across the poor young fellow's head. It was, however, apparent that the case was a hopeless one, and death supervened twenty minutes after the accident. Sergt. Gamble was communicated with, and a trap was procured for the conveyance of the body to the residence of deceased's mother, in Kyber Pass Road. The sad news was broken to Mrs Nicholson by Yen. Archdeacon Dudley, Dr. Stockwell also being in attendance at the time.

Mr Brabazon's Explanation. The story of the occurrence is best told in Mr Brabazon's own words. He says : — Our party consisted of Waterhouse Nicholson, Harold Nicholson (his brother), VV. Colebrook, Herbert Noakes, Herbert Brabazon (my brother), and myself. We had been away sines Saturday, camping out as a shooting excursion to Pihi, Rariki, and over to the West Coast. We intended to catch the train at Waikomiti, and being rather late, had to run in order to catch it. We had barely time to get on board with our swags when the train want off. My gun was a single - barrel pinfire cartridge gun, and when we were hurrying to catch the train I could not stop to take out the cartridge. After we got into the train, however, I borrowed Harold Nicholsons ramrod and tried to get the charge out, but owing to the cartridge being swollen by the rain, I could not do so. Waterhouse Nicholson saw me do this, and made a remark about it; he knew, therefore, that the gun was loaded. When we got out at Mount Eden station, the people wore all rushing hither and thither. I saw my swag being kicked and trampled upon by passers by, and I drew Waterhouse Nicholsons attention to it. He held out his hand and took my gun while I went to look after it. I had been gone about ten or twenty seconds, and had just placed my hand on the swag when 1 heard the gun go off.

Cause of the Accident. Mr Brabazon is quite certain that the gun was at half-cock when he gave it to his companion, and he is equally positive that the weapon would not go off at half-cock. He says there was a small tent behind Nicholson, who must, he believes, have stooped down to pick it up when the explosion occurred. His theory is that something — possibly one of the tent ropes - caught the hammer and pulled it back while Nicholson was stooping, and that when he was about to rise, the hammer fell, causing the discharge of the gun. It was clear moonlight at the time of the accident, the hour being about seven o'clock. The facts stated above were duly reported to Dr. Philson, and arrangements were made for an inquest to be held at the Queen's* Hotel, corner of Kyber Pass Road and Symonds-street, at half-past two o'clock on May 27.

Rev. Mr Rice has been inducted into the pastorate of Tynte-street Baptist Church, Adelaide.