CASUALTIES.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14885, 27 January 1914, Page 8

CASUALTIES.

DROWNED IN THE HARBOUR. A SEAMAN'S END. At about S o'clock yesterday morning it was reported to the police that the body of a man had been discovered close to the watermen's steps in the Lyttciton Harbour by Captain Nelson, ot the little steamer l'urau. The body, which was in an advanced stage of decomposition, had evidently been brought to the surface by the ferry steamer Maori as that.vessel was leaving the wharf at an early hour in the morning to enter tho graving dock. The body was identified by a card, which was found in deceased's clothes, bearing the name of Stephen J. Guiton, an able seaman belonging to the Federal-Shire steamer Sussex, which left Lyttelton for Wellington on Friday last. An inquest was held at the morgue yesterday afternoon, before Mr H. W. Bishop, District Coroner. Constable Hart gave formal evidence. Samuel Booth, Superintendent of the Seamen's Institute, Lyttelton, deposed that the deceased, whose body he could identify by the clothes, was a member of the crew of the Sussex and had been put out of the Institute owing to excessive drinking. Senior-Sergeant Rvan stated that on the '21st inst. a warrant was issued against deceased for desertion from the Sussex, it being mentioned at the timo of issuing the warrant that he had last been seen on the wharf in a drunken condition on the evening of the 10th in«t. He was the only member of the crew who was missing when the Sussex left for Wellington. Ihe Coroner returned a verdict that deceased was found drowned, there being no evidence to show by what means he got into the water. A horse harnessed to a light spring dray bolted in Geraldine yesterday, and a youth, named Harold Sherratt, had a narrow escape from serious injury. The horse had been left by the owner, Mr W. Russell, with a child of four years of a<;o seated in the cart, and something caused it to move off down the main street. It went slowly at first, and Sherratt, who was cycling ahead, dismounted and, keeping hold of his bicycle, tried to seize the reins. Failing in the effort, ho was knocked down, and, with his machine, under the horse and cart. Fortunately he managed to avoid the horse's hoofs, but a wlieel went over him before he i got clear. He was able to get up and walk away, and, apart from a few bruises, he declared himself unhurt. His bicycle was completely wrecked, and his clothes cut to pieces. The horse, now thoroughly startled, galloped at a good pace down the street, but was stopped' by the driver of the mail coach. Yesterday, Mrs Colgan, "residing in Harewood road, Pnpanui, was admitted to tho Hospital suffering from burns on her face. Mrs Colgan was moving about her house with a kerosene lamp on Sunday night, when the lamp exploded. The burning oil splashed in her face, causing painful injuries, which, however, were not serious. The patient was treated afc the Hospital, and her condition ie satisfactory. A man named Henry Fox, residing in Darwin etreet, was admitted to the hospital yesterday suffering from a fractured knee-cap. (PBESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAMS.) • AUCKLAND January 26. John Ornsteins, aged. 12 years, was drowned at Ponsonby on Saturday afternoon. He was last seen at 3 p.m. on a rock in bathing dress. Later his friends became alarmed as he had not returned home, and the police were advised. In the meantime two young women found the body floating near the shore.. They dragged it on to the beach and applied restorative measures, but though subsequently assisted by a doctor, their efforts to restore life were futile. Ornsteins, who was a good swimmer, is supposed to have been seized with a fit. GISBORNE, January 26. At the enquiry into the death of James Dobie. who died at the Hospital yesterday, after a.drinking bout, the medical evidence suggested that death was possibly due to corrosive poisoning, and the inquest was adjourned pending a report from the Government Analyst on the contents of deceased's stomach. WANGANUI. January 26. James Stevenson, a- resident of Eastown, was drowned in the Wanganui river at Makirikiri this evening. He fell overboard from a launch. PAHIATUA. January 26. The body of Robert Smith Pattison, recently from Palmerston North, was found in the Tirikumea river yesterday, with half the face blown away, and a brick tied round the neck. Deceased's gun was found near the body. Nothing unusual was noticed in Pattison's manner by . the other employees on Lethbridge's farm, where he was working. WAIMATE. January 26. G. W. Leader, plumber, was about to have some teeth drawn yesterday, and was put under chloroform by Dr. Barclay, but before tho dentist started to draw the teeth, Leader died under the anaesthetic. All efforts to restore animation were unsuccessful. At tho inquest to-day, a verdict was returned that death was due-^ , to the effects of chloroform administered while deceased had a fatty overgrowth of the heart. # Leader had only started m business here some months ago. He was 27 years of age, and leaves a widow and'threo yon up. children. DUNEDIN. January 26. John Smeath, need 25 years, a labourer, was accidentally foiled by the brake handle of a jig wheel at the Manorburn dam this morning.