FORESTERS' FETE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 350, 29 December 1879, Page 2

FORESTERS' FETE.

Saturday turned out beautifully fine and the adjourned sports commenced. Every arrangement had been made to make the gathering a success by the committee appointed for the purpose, which consisted of Messfs Gray, G, Dixon, P. Hourigan, J. Walker,.R. Brown, J. Brown, R, M. Galloway, W. Parkes, and W. M. Easthope, Mr Gray acted as judge, and Mr G, Dixon as starter. The Volunteer Brass Band were in attendance and enlivened tho proceedings not a little. Towards the afternoon a fair attendance of visitors were visible. The first event started at 11,30.

Maiden Race, 220 p>\7s-Entrauce 2s Gd First Prize, 30s; second 15s

10 entries, and was a well contested race, resulting in L, Russell coming in first,F, Hessey a good second. Boys' Ihce, under twelve—Entrance Is First Prize 10s; second 5s

5 entries. Puvcell Ist, Tillett 2nd. Hurdle Me-Mmca 2s fid First Prize 30s; second las 4 entries. T. Dixon Ist, W. Dixon 2nd.

Foresters' Race Handicap, 250 yards— Entrance 2s 6d First Prize, 40s; second 20s

4 entries, _ G. Jennings Ist, J. 0, Reid 2nd, Jennings won this by two or three yards but fell down at the winning post in a faint. He was promptly picked up conveyed to one of the booths, and a messenger despatched for a medical man. Ou Dr Beard arriving he at once pronounced him dead, • This put an end to the sports, the brethren forming a procession and conveying the body of their unfortunate brother to the Prince of Wales Hotel, there to await an inquest. INQUEST.

An inquest was held at the Prince of Wales' Hotel on Saturday evening last on the body of George Jennings, who fell down dead after running a race at the Foresters' Sports held on that day. A jury was empanelled, consisting of the following Messrs E. A. Wyllie (Foreman), A. Bish, H. Bruce, G. Ross, M. McKenzie, A. P, Feilding, R. Hatch, S. Betty, J, McLeod, J. Day, 0. Christiansen, and J. J Smith; who, after viewing the body, proceeded to call evidence. W, M. Easthope, called, said : I saw deceased run the race, and retired to the tent to write down the name of the winner. I had known him for some few months. lam secretary to jCourt Loyal Enterprise, of which body deceased is a member. He had just run a race of 250 yards in length, called the Foresters' Eace, He appeared to me to be all right when passing the winning post, looking back to see if any of the others were near him. After entering the name in the book I returned, and saw deceased had fallen down, He was about 25 yards past the winning post when he fell. I went to see him, and saw several were chafing his limbs. He was then carried to a booth, Deceased seemed to me to be in a faint, I did not see him move, and'he seemed to be quite insensible. Two surgeons were sent for immediately, Drs Beard and Hosking. Dr Beard arrived ill about 15 or 20 minutes. Deceased was admitted to our Court about a week ago, but has been a member of the Order for some years. He had a doctor's certificate, and on that certificate he was admitted. Dr Hosking, the Court surgeon, gave the certificate, and it was to the effect that the deceased was at that time in sound health. I have never heard of him being otherwise than in good health. lam of opinion that Dr Hosking is extremely particular as to whom he admits to the Society, I was secretary to the Committee on the occasion of the sports.

Lnuis Svendsen, called, said; I was present at deceased's death. I was holding his clothes while he ran the race. I have known deceased about five or six months. I have heard that sometimes he was ill after running races. I was standing near the winning post, and when he passed it there did not seem to be anything the matter with him. When he got to the next post, about twenty yards from the winning post, he caught hold of it and said to me, "Catch hold of me," and fell down. He did not speak after, but breathed, and continued to do so for a few minutes. -He changed color, going black in the face, and then turned very pale, showing every appearance of being dead, Dr Beard came in about twenty minutes' time and examined him and said he was dead.

b. F. Beard, called, said: lam a surgeon, residing at Masterton, I was sent for about 2.30 p.m. Two young men rode up and said a man was dying at the Foresters' Sports. I went immediately, riding down. I found deceased, supported by two or three men, in a tent. I thought he was dead the moment I saw

him. ; I felt his pulse, and put the stethoscope to his heart. The pupils of the eyes were widely dilated. The surface of the body was very pale, and the lips blue. I did not notice anything further in deceased's outward appearance, I was told he ht'd been running a race, coming in a winner by about ten .yards distance. I was also told he ran up against a post, which he clasped in his arms and then fell down. He had been quickly remsvedinto a tent, In my opinion a health*; man would not have dropped down deadm with the muscular exertion deceased hadpH undergone, but any one apopletic or suf fering from ally disease of the heart might do so. In my opinion he must have had some affection of the heart which might almost have been impossible to have discovered during life. He might have done ; any ordinary work, such as his occupation of a shoemaker, without experiencing any distressing symptoms. By the Foreman: My opinion is that the cause of death was the sudden cessation of the heart's action from valvular dilation of the heart, or from rupture, the quantity of blood gorging the ' h«rt., through the excitement induced by the,-...., racing. I should think deceased Bad di-; j latation of the heart for some ; tiii® vious, whichdilatation may perceptible during life. Had dcceas&HS done any extra exertion, such as walkitjfHHS up a hill, he must havo experienced toms of heart disease. The jury may think that because Dr Hosking examined deceased about a week previous he ought to have detected heart disease; but in my opinion, a Hospital doctor at home, used to the stethescope every day in his life, might .not have discovered any symptoms.

The Coroner said that he had intended to hold the inquest on Monday, but the constable had informed him that Dr Hosking had, told him (the constable) that a post mortom examination was not necessary, as deceased had no doubt died from natural causes, and therefore he had decided to proceed with the inquest that evening..

A verdict to the following effect was then returned " That the deceased, George Jennings, died at Masterton, on the 26th December, 1879, after having ran a race at certain sports then and thereheld, which accidentally caused his death, he apparently suffering at the time from an affection of the heart."