SIXTY PERSONS POISONED.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXII, Issue 12432, 3 April 1908, Page 7

SIXTY PERSONS POISONED.

Disastrous Picnic.

Robert Harper and Co.'s employees' picnic at Mornington, Victoria, was the occasion oi a sensational occurrence, between bity .and sixty of the picnickers Ijecoining affected with ptomaine poisoning, many of them suffering very severely. Unforli.nately (says the Sydney Morning Herald) the trouble was not noticeable until the Courier, which had been engaged for the excursion, had cast away from her moorings at Mornington for the return Lip to Melbourne, and the party were cut off from medical assistance. The steamer had not travelled far befoiv young girls and women from all quarters of the ship commenced to complain of feeling ill. Several of the young women icll upon the deck and rolled about i« helpless agacny. Then half a dozen men became dizzy, and overwhelmed by the pain of ptomaine poisoning. Those who had been fortunate enough to escape the food which had been responsible for the outbreak carried the sufferers into the social hall of the steamer. Even members of the Richmond City Band did not escape the poison. Just as the musicians were playing a favourite air a collapse occurrad. The bandsmen were working to the climax, when the player of one of tho largest and most imposing instruments in the band fell headlong over his mu»c stand. In quick time several of his comrades followed his example, and before long half the band were down bplow. When the Courier arrived at Port Melbourne Mr Henry Harper summoned the aid of Dr. Sabelberg. Before the vessel left Port. Melbourne for Queen's wharf four of the St. John ambulance waggons were summoned to be in readiness at the wharf. A large number of sufferers elected to be driven in cabs to their homes to be treated privately, instead of attending the hospital.

There can be no cestainty concerning the cause of the sickness, but the majority o f the picnickers lay the blame upon some cold ox tongue and cold ham served them. From ten o'clock till midnight tho woman's casualty room at the Melbourne Hospital was unusually busy. Half a dozen doctors, assisted by as many nurses, and armed with stomach pumps, endeavoured to arrest tho sickness in its earlier stages. Then, when ihe patients were pronounced sufficiently recoveifd to allow their removal to their homes they were taken away by the St. John ambulance waggons.

Fourteen girls and women were treated at the hospital, but only one was detained and sent into a ward.

The mail which left Wanganui on the 21st February, via Suez, reached London on Sunday last.

The weather conditions this morning were very diversified over the North Island, while rain was falling on the West Coast and South of the South Island. The glass read from 29.98 at Auckland to 29.83 locally, and down to 29.75 at Wellington, 29.63 at Christchuroh, and 29.56 Dunedin. The temperatures were — Auckland, Wanganui, and Wellington,' 64 deg., Christchurch 58, Dunedin 60.

While journeying in the train between Wtuiganui and rordell, a well-known M.P. wnc resides not a thousand miles from here, was engaged in conversation with two ladies (tlwre were three of the veakei .-?x in the party, but th«* third was not introduced to Ilie n:ember). No. !» however, after trying lo locate the budding Premier, came to the point, her feminine enriosifcy having overcome lur, and she addresser! the M.P. thusly: — "I know your face, bni I cannot place jou." After a moment'? rause the lady (who is well-known in the Fordell district) exclaimed — "Now 1 know ; are you not the man who tuned our piano last year?" Collapse of member.