ACCIDENTS & FATALITIES

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13847, 8 March 1909, Page 5

ACCIDENTS & FATALITIES

DISASTER AT BIRKENHEAD. Press Assoi;ial.ion-]>y Telegraph-Copyright Received 0.21) a.m., March Bth. LONDON, March 7. During the preparations to admit water to the almost linisbed Victoria Dock at Birkenhead, a high wind and higlw tide broke the piles and timbers forming a dam, and an- inrush of water caught nineteen men who were working iu the flock. It swept away the platform of a huge crane, which collapsed upon the workmen, pinning them. Five men had miraculous escapes. SUICIDE IN DESPAIR. SYDNEY, March 7. At the inquest on the Cotteralls, a verdict was found that one brother, 'after.- accidentally shooting the other, committed, suicide. ' TRAINS IN COLLISION. Received 1.30 p.m., March 7th. LONDON, March 6. By a. collision between two trains at Tollbridge, three persons were killed and twelve injured. An inspector smartly stoppod the Margate express from dashing into the wreckage. The accident blocked the line and delayed the King's journey to the Continent.

HUirr ON THE RAILWAY. Per Press Association. MARTON, March 7. A middle aged man named McGonagle, met with a serious accident at Marton Junction last evening. Ho was removing luggage from the van, and the engine jarred the train, causing him to fall. A wheel went over liis arm, practically severing it. He also received injuries on the head and his foot was badly bruised. He was taken to the Palmerston Hospital., APPARENT INFANTICIDE. CHRISTCHURCH, March (3. The body of a newly born infant was found in the river near the Barbadoes street cemetery this afternoon. Some boys were playing on the river bank and had a. dog with them. The dog was going into the water after sticks, and when lie returned on one occasion he brought the body with hints The body appears as though it has been in the water for sonic time. LONG DEAD. ASH BURTON, March 7. The body of a hum decomposed be-, yond recognition was discovered partially immersed in a pool of dead water under the willow trees on the south bank of the Ashbnrtoii river, a. mile from town this morning. The remains Were those, of a, man of about the average height. As far as the. police can ascertain by examination, he had no whiskers, but a small portion of hair that- remains on the head was grey. The man had evideentlv been dead for two months, and it is thought that the remains may have been washed down the river by the heavy flood which occurred at the end of January. The police are not aware of any man being missing in Ashburton county, and beyond the description given, and apart from : socks and- a boot, which were all the clothing on t.lic remains, there is nothing to lead to identification. . A DROWNING CASK. DUNEDIN, March 7. A drowning accident occurred at Tomahawk yesterday, the victim being Alexander Maxwell, aged 23. a. son of Henry Maxwell, Registrar of Electors. Deceased and bis brother, aged 21, went for a bathe. Almost immediately afterwards deceased was seen a considerable distance oub'ih the surf. He suddenly disappeared aiid was seen ho more. Deceased was a good swimmer. The body has licit been recovered. A BOY DROAVNED. THE CORONER'S RIDERS. NAPIER, INI arch 7. A bov of eight years named Maurice Edward .Hughes was drowned in the surf near the southern end of the Marine Parade on Saturday afternoon. There was a heavy st>ii, aiid the boy Was caught by the. backwash. At the inquest Mr S. E'. McCarthy S.M., recorded a verdict of accidentally drowned, and adding the following riders • "The Coroner desires to call the attention of the proper authorities to the uselssness of the buoys at present m-ovided for life-saving purposes. In lieu of buoys there should be provided life-»iaving' belts, with at least 200 vards Of suitable rope attached thereto. "As a further rider tho Coroner do sires to direct public attention to the fact that the view of the body disclosed, the fact that a man, his wife and three children lived in a one-roomed outhouse not more than ten feet long by six feet wide, which was without ventilation 01. any kind. Tho body of deceased was laid oii a table alongside a sleeping child." FATAL BURNING.

A negro named Martin Pellot, employed as cook on the Hoii. J. D. Ormond's lvarainu station, was so badly burnt through the place in which he slept catching lire on Saturday night, that he died while being taken to Hastings. The building was not much damaged.- It is supposed that Pellot accidentally set fire to the place on retiring. ACCIDENT AT HOOK. On Friday morning a young man, a son of Mr Hynes, whilst loading gt'mu into an iron floored truck at Hook siding met with a painful accident. J.lie iron floor was very greasy after the shower, and the young fellow slipped and fell, the trolley and bag iallmg on his hand and crushing one finger to a pulp. He had to go to Waanutc to get it dressed.