CHARLESTON NEWS.

Westport Times, Volume 1, Issue 147, 20 January 1868, Page 3

CHARLESTON NEWS.

"We regret to have to report a fatal accident which took place on Friday morning at Darkie's Terrace. The deceased, named Hugh O'Doimell, was one of a party called the " North Tramway Company," and was crushed by a fall of cement in a drive which he had entered. Some time elapsed before his mates removed the ground which had fallen about him, and though it is said he was breathing when his head was uncovered, life was quite extinct when his body freed. There was a very good attendance at the Bijou Theatre on Friday night, to witness the special performances arranged for the occasion. The programme comprised selections from Tobin's eomedy of the " Honeymoon." A miscellaneous concert of vecal and instrumental music, a hornpipe, and the piece entitled the " Stage Struck Barber," as a wind-up. We need scarcely add that the performers were well applauded throughout. Miss Annie Merton is evidently becoming a great favorite, and those who have once seen Mr W. H. Newton act, generally desire to do so again. The musical part of the evening's entertainment was a great treat, and Mr Black received bis usual number of encores. The Fanny, schooner, in attempting to quit the harbor on Thursday after-

noon, had a narrow escape from shipwreck. Notwithstanding the white Hag was flying, her captain tried to get out without the aid even of the Burfboat, though the bar was pretty rough. On reaching the Heads, the light wind failed to be of any service, tending rather to aid the swell in driving the vessel on to the rocks, which she bumped against, and would probably have been lost had not lines been got aboard from the shore, under the Harbor-Master's directions, and the schooner dragged stern first back into the bay. The little injuries sustained were soon repaired, and she proceeded to sea next morning's tide. An inquest on the body of the late Hugh O'Donnell was held by the coroner, J. 11. Button, Esq., at I ooney's Hotel, on Saturday afternoon. The evidence taken was as follows: Maurice M'Donald, being sworn, said I am a miuer at Darkie's Terrace in a claim with five others. The claim is worked on a face, and a drive was put in for the sand, about 4 feet on the floor but not so much at top ; there were three props in, being as many as rould be placed, and I did not see anything dangerous about the ground. I was about 15 or 20 feet from the deceased where the ground fell in on him and had spoken to him only a minute or two before. About Bor 10 tons of cement and earth fell and I took a piece of cement off the head of the deceased who was then still breathing. About 20 men set to work to remove the earth which took about an hour, and when deceased was taken out, life was quite extinct. James Carter deposed—l am a mate in the claim referred to by last witness, and have known the deceased, Hugh O'Donnell, for 4or 5 years. He had only just come into the claim as a wages man. On Friday morning we were at work, and I was wheeling a truck when the accident happened. I heard the stuff falling, and looking round to the right, saw two of my mates standing looking frightened, looking to the left and not seeing deceased, I clambered on the top of the debris, and through a fissure could see his head, from over which a block of cement was taken, I cried out for help, and a number of men came and dug him out, by that time he was dead. One of the party went to town for a doctor who arrived before the deceased was taken out. Ido not think the accident was <aused through any negligence. The continued r,dns may have loosened the ground. Dr M'Mullin stated there could be no doubt about the cause of death, which was suffocation. The jury, without retiring, returned a verdict of accidental death. The schooner Ann arrived from Greymouth on Saturday with a general cargo for Messrs Kennedy. She has made a very quick trip of it. The steamer Waipara made her first appearance in Constant Bay on Saturday afternoon. Captain Beveridge, harbor-master, boarded her in the offing and piloted her inside, and the bar being beautifully smooth, no difficulty was experienced either in entering turning, or leaving. The, of late, unaccusi omed sound of the steam whistle brought a large concourse of spectators to the head land overlooking the bay to watch the steamer's entrance. After remaining übout an hour to discharge cargo, the Waipara took her departure, and after so favorable an experience, we shall no doubt soon see her back again, and indeed there appears no reason why she should not be put permanently in the trade, taking up the business left vacant since the little Halc\ on went to Auckland. We observe that Mr Peel, the great American dancer, has a benefit to-night (Monday), at the Belle de Union, and hope his modest efforts te amuse the public will be rewarded by a full house.