ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1874, 7 October 1913, Page 7

ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.

o FOUND IN DEBRIS. LIVES LOST IN A FIRE. (By Telegraph— Prces Association.) Auckland, October 6. At Birkenhead on Saturday night a fire destroyed a dwelling occupied by an aged couplo, James Given, aged sixtysix, and his wife, aged sixty-five. About 8.30 p.m. neighbours discovered tho house ablaze.' The flames had such a strong hold that nothing could bo done to save the building. As tho walls fell in the dead bodies of Given and his wifo were seen lying amidst the burning dobris. It is supposed tho fire was caused by tlio upsetting of 'a lighted candle. From the position of the bodies it appeared that Mrs. Given was in bed when tho firo started. Her husband's body was on 'tlio floor a few feet away. At the inquest, Constable M'Gilp, illcharge of tho Birkenhead Station, said that he had known both deceased for about 35 years. They were a couplo who used to indulge in hoavy drinking bouts. Witness knew tho house in which they lived. It was a two-roomed shanty, one room boing separated from the other by a screen. On Saturday evening witness was called at about 0.45 o'clock, and ho found Givon's house practically destroyed, though tho ruins were still burning. A vordict was retumod by Mr. Cutten, tho coroner, to tho effect that the deceased had met death by burning. He added that there was no evidence to show how the firo originatd. FOUND ON THE BEACH. Auokland, October 6. The body of an unknown man, about 65 years, 'sft. Bin. height, dressed in ii well-worn tweed suit, has be.vn found drowned on the beach at Orakei. BODY IN THE RIVER. Wanganul, October 6. At the inquest held this morning on tho body of Hugh O'Donell, found in the river after having been missing for a week, a vordict of found drowned was returnod. There was evidonco to show that death had been other than accidental. NAPIER FATALITY. Napier, Ootobor 0. John Ca-rdwell, employed on a trawler, was found drowned in the harbour. It is believed he slipped when going aboard his vessel. SAD OCCURRENCE. Tafhape, October 6. Wilford Thomas Ford, aged eight years, son of Mr. George Ford, a farmer near ltangataua Lakes, was killed on Saturday. His father was felling a small treo and deceased and a youngor brother camo near just as tho tree was falling. Their father called to them to run, and both ran different ways, tho deceased going under tho falling tree. Ho was instantly killed. At tho inquest a verdict of accidental death was returned. INJURED IN FARISH STREET. Androw Lawson, a married man, living at 172 Taninaki Street, was taken to tho Hospital by a constable nt midnight suffering from a broken anklo. No ono seems to know exactly how tho accident occurred. Tho police were informed that a- man was lying injured in Farisli Street, and subsequently discovered Lawson. Dr. Henry was called, and immediately ordered the man's removal to tho Hospital. The inquest touching tho death of Benjamin Anderson, who was found drowned in the harbour on Sunday, is to trvko plaoo at tlio Magi'strnt-d'a Court at 0 o'oleok thJa morning,