AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXVI, Issue 13422, 8 July 1911, Page 6

AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

RACE ENDS IN DEATH. A goods train from Petersburg to Port Birin, which consisted of two engines, thirty-three trucks, and throe brake vans, one of which was in the middle of the train, parted its couplings on the summit of a steep gradient outside Yongala railway station. The eiigincdrivers, realising what had happened, immediately put on full steam to get away from the rear portion of the train. The grade was so steep, however, that the unattached trucks caught up to the other part of the train, with the result that the middle brake-van was completely smashed. Guard Wohi‘ was pinned underneath a load of ore in a following truck, and death must have been instantaneous. Several trucks left the line, and all wore thrown out of work, hut the line was clean'd fur trallie in. five hours. Wehr’s brother was killed several years ago through a train overtaking him when mounted on a railway trievcle.

FATAL BLOW IN PLAY. Schoolgirl's Death. An inquest concerning the death of Ethel Davis, aged G years, which occurred at the Children's Hospital, Melbourne, on Juno 19, was: held at the Morgue by the coroner (Mr. Cole). Nellie Davis, the mother, said that when her daughter, Ethel Davis, came home to luncheon on .Thursday afternoon, she had complained that another child had hit her during the play hour at school. Her daughter returned to school, but became ill, and had to be assisted homo. Constable McCarthy said that he made inquiries, and had interviewed two little girls, Hetlie Turner and Ada, Scott, licitio Turner said that she had hit Ethel Davis white they were playing together, and that Ada Scott had hit her also. On interviewing Ada Scott she said that she had only struck Ethel once, and that the. little girl Turner had also struck her. Dr. Alelveddie, who made the post, ■mortem examination, said that death was due to peritonitis. A rupture had proha biv been caused by a blow of some kind. The Coroner said that the two children who struck Ethel Davis did so in play. Neither had attained the age of six year's, au.l were not responsible. Little children frequently struck one another with harmless results, but in this ease a little girl had been killed. A verdict was recorded that Ethel Davis died Irom general peritonitis, following, and probahlv the result of, a'blow in the abdomen. Death was due to misadventure.