Fatalities.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 441, 29 September 1904, Page 4

Fatalities.

SAD FATALITY AT MATAKANOI. | ..• A sad fatality pocurred at Mat«Unui en ' the 17th inst, the victim being a young man named Robert Sheppard, 17 years ot age - and theyoungestaon..of..Mr.,Samue; Pher,! ; pard. From the information supplied bv a , correspondent we glean that the un'or u'mta | young man was driving a harrowing tram, .whenby sonje,;meankhe fell in front of the harrows, which went over his body, and dragged him some distance. When discovered he faai quite dead, death beiDg ap. pafently caused by suffocation. The deceased young man was held in the highest ; esteem by all who knew him, and it is indeed sad to think that such a promising life : should have so soon ended. Throughout the district, much sympathy is expressed for the parents and family in their untimely bereavement. *■*> DOUBLE FATALITY at ROXBURGH. A shocking aocident occurred at Pox. burgh on Saturday last by which two men named George Taylor and Robert 11' Nab were killed instantaneously. The deceased were in the employ of the Amalgamated Sluicing Company, and on the day mentioned were two of a party of five who wero sent to repair a break in the Company's race caused by a slip from the hill above, which is here very steep. On arriving at the scene, it was noticed that the slip had exposed a' huge boulder, about 2 tons in weight, about 60ft immediately above where the inen had to work. 4n attempt was made to dislod-e the boulder, by means of crowbars, but it was apparently immovable, and it was de. cided to proceed with the work, 3 Soointfme afterwards, Mr Waighth (the: 'irtaWeri happening to look up, *aw the bouM, r .careering down the hill, and he immediately gave the alarm. Mr Waigth and two other» managed to get out of the road when th« boulder reached the bottom; but Taylor and M'Nab were not so fortunate. -» t t reached the bottom, the boulder Fnlit a ,, one large piece struck Taylor. Mishit a his head in a frightful manner,-M'Nab b > g struck in the same way. Taylor w»s ki)i<-d instantaneously, and M Nab breau.-i on . for a few moments. Shocking as the ><• ■ dent is, itjjnight easily have been w i-e »« ?M^ a * oD «|hy the merest chance- *Jbat L.< whole of the mehavere* not struct;*;!) ay ,or who will be remembered as the JV.whi'« driver of the Alexandra Roxburgh roach , leaves a Wjife and family. M'Nab. we understand, is a single man, aud* hail* from Mornington.. &$ J