ACCIDENTALLY SHOT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4814, 30 November 1893, Page 1

ACCIDENTALLY SHOT.

LONDON,. Nov. 29. Captain Samuel, son of Sir Saul Samuel, Agent-General for New South "Wales, was accidentally Bhot in the leg while shooting at Emismore. A portion of the flesh of the leg was shot away, and the bone injured. According to the latest reports, Captain Samuel is in a serious condition. A MISSING STEAMER. It is feared that the British steamer John Hawkins has been lost in the Bay of Biscay. Her cjew numbered twenty-five men. [Pee Press Association.] HOKITIKA, Nov. 29. A miner named Magan was found drowned in a shaft at Hau-Hau on Sunday. He had been missing ten days. A little boy named Dooley fell off a timber waggon, and the horse walked over him, stepping on his face. He is very badly injured, and is not expected to live. V - ' INQUEST. An inquest was held at Lyttelton yesterday afternoon befdre Mr H. W. Bishop, Coroner, and a jury of whom Mr G. Laurenßon was chosen foreman, to enquire into the circumstances -connected with the death of Fitzroy George Hamilton, the torpedoman who was drowned at Lyttelton on the previous day. The following evidence was taken. G. P. Blanchotfc, a gunner in the Permanent Artillery Force: —Was on board the Government launch on Tuesday afternoon coming from Bipa Island. Shortly after leaving the island Hamilton came out of the engineer's room and waa standing close to M'Kenzie, another member of the torpedo force, when the steamer gave a larch and both men went into the water. The steamer had gone two or three hundred , yards before she could be stopped, and then Gunner Hay and witness jumped overboard, witness taking a life-buoy. Hay got first to Hamilton and when witness got up tp them M'Kenzie had disappeared. Then went on to assist Hay to keap Hamilton afloat. Shortly afterwards & boat came from Bipa Island and rescued Hay and witness and they got Hamilton's body on board also. There did not appear to be any life in the body then, but they used endeavours to restore life. Both men were eobor, and everything was done that could be done to save them. John Hay, gunner in the Permanent Artillery gave corroborative evidence. Charles Toy, artificer, in the Permanent Artillery, deposed to being on Bipa Island when the men fell off the launch. Lowered a boat and rowed with Artificer Milne to the spot, and picked up Hay, Blanchett and deceased. Saw no sign of life in Hamilton. M'Ken7.ie had gone down by this time. To the foreman: There would have been more chance of saving the lives if a boat had been toning astern of the launch. Dr T. W. Pairman deposed to being called to the launch when she arrived at Lyttelton. Tried all means of restoring animation on Hamilton. Should Bay that deceased had died from shock. Knew the deceased, who suffered from a weak heart, and this might have hastened death. Sir Arthur Douglas, major in charge of the force at Lyttelton, said, in reply to a question from ft juror, that the launch wa3 not equipped with the life - saving appliances laid down by law. Thought it would be better if there were more life-buoys or belts. Considered it would be impracticable to always tow a dingey astern. After a short deliberation the jury returned a verdict of "Accidental death by falling overboard from the launch." The jury nlso considered that tbe. launch should bo provided with extra life-paving apparatus, and considered that Gunners H>y and Blanchett were entitled to prais« for their plucky action in jumping overboard.