FATAL ACCIDENT.

Wanganui Chronicle, Issue 12889, 22 July 1913, Page 6

FATAL ACCIDENT.

BURIED IN A LANDSLIDE

On Saturday, says the "Waverley Tribune," Mr. Tom Sinclair was kille/1 out on 'Mr."James Dalton's property at Nukuhau —-some 25 miles back- —in the valley near the Whenuakura River. He was engaged widening a track sufficiently to admit of some totara posts (for fencing) being brought out. A young man named ,J. Thurston was working with him. Noting a rata tree (about 100 yards distant) on fire, deceased asked his companion to extinguish tho blaze. After ijitfnplyirig Thurston returned, could rtoq see Sinclair anywhere, but found .daat a lot of earth had come down \yjjere he had been working. andHKat tKs mate's dog was sitting on tho vanished man's waistcoat.^ Conjecturing jfrightly, it transpired) that Sinclair had been overwhelmed by the landslide, Thurston at onco informed neighbours, all some distance off. Time did not permit of anything being done during tho hours of daylight, and it was too dangerous to make an effort at niprht. After some three hours' work yesterday morning tho sliri was removed sufficiently to enable the body to be reached. It was found head downward, as though the unfortunate man had been caught when stooping. The body was put~on to a strong horse and got to the summit, after much difficulty, by 2 p.m., and brought into the residence of deceased's mother, here, in-the evening, by conveyance. Bad roads—a 'bog. almost, in parts—the whole distance from about eight miles north of Waverley, made tho task of .bringing the body in ?. heavy one. Constable O'Brien went out to the scene of the accident early yesterday morning, and saw to the removal of tho body. Widespread sympathy with Mrs. Sinclair and the members of her family is expressed. Deceased lost an arm in a mill accident some years ago. Un to recently ho was engaged ot the. Hunt Club kennoh. Ho was 36 years of age and unmarried. At1 tho inquest. Mr. J. Muir coroner, a verdict of "Death by misadventure" w.as returned.