GORED TO DEATH

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 10, 7 October 1918, Page 6

GORED TO DEATH

BY AN INFURIATED BULL

TRAGIC AFFAIR AT THORNDON STATION '

1 One of the best stockmen in New Zealand, in the person of Mr. William 1 Ward, a partner in the firm of J. O'Brien and Co., carriers and forwarding agents, of Wellington, met his death in a tragic manner on Saturday morning. Owing to his facility in the handling of valuable stud stock, Mr. Ward's services were'in great demand whenever valuable cattle were in transit | through.'Wellington, land it was in the I'performance of such duties that he met his death. Mr. Ward went down to the Thorndon railway station between 7 and 8 a.m. to feed and water a valuable Friesian bull that was being shipJ ped away to i Melbourne'by the Westralia on Saturday. The bull was in the ,truck in which it had travelled from the Manawatu distriot tho- previous night, and in order to attend to its wards' it had to be led' from the truck U, the stockyard. Evidently tho deceased had no difficulty in inducing his charge to accept the larger freedom of the stockyard, but once there the animal made a savage and altogether unexpected attack on Mr. Ward. .It is Understood that *there were no actual witnesses of the maddened brute's first onset, but it is understood that in the first rush the bull caught the unfortunate man with its horns and tore a wound in the thigh, and having knocked him down trampled on his chest. KvV'n tins did not altogether incapacitate Mr. Ward, as it is understood that lie was just able to scramble over the stockyard fence.

Somo railway, men, becoming aware that an accident had occurred, rushed over to the stockyard, .did the best they could for the injured man,_ and removed him to a sheltered position. Drs. Clay and Henry were summoned, but their assistance could avail nothing. Death ensued within three-quarters of an hour sifter the tragic episode. Mr. AVard, who was fifty-eight years of age, was known as a stockman from one end of the Dominion to the other. He was at one time engaged in stock farming with Mr. J. O'Brien, • and when it was decided to start business in Wellington they did so as partners, _ and have remained together ever since, Mr. Ward looking after the stock transport aid of the business, in which he was perhaps the best expert in New Zealand. Mr. Ward, who resided in Adams Terrace, leaves a wife and three children, one a baby three weeks old. Much sympathy will be expressed with Mrs. Ward.

An inquest will be held concerning the Natality.