The Fielding Star. SATURDAY, JULY 31, 1886. Who is to Blame?

Feilding Star, Volume VIII, Issue 21, 31 July 1886, Page 2

The Fielding Star. SATURDAY, JULY 31, 1886. Who is to Blame?

In our last issue we drew attention to the case of an unfortunate man, whose name we have since learned was Patrick Sixon, who was injured at Otaki on Wednesday last, and who died in the train while being conveyed to Wanganui. An inquest (we quote from the Chronicle) was held in Wanganui on Thursday, and the first witness called was Dr Connolly, who stated he had been advised by wire from Dr McIntyre, in Palmerston, to the effect that a man with a broken leg was coming by the night train. On the arrival of the train he went down and found the man dead. Deceased had a compound fracture of the right leg, and amputation would have been necessary. A slight bruise was on the left leg. There was a scratch on one arm, and on the spine, and on the left side. Did not think there was any injury to the spine. Thought death was caused by the injury, combined, with the shaking deceased received by coming up in the train. There were no proper appliancesfor bringing wounded people to town, and there was no convenience at Palmerston for wounded men. The next witness was Timothy Sullivan, who took charge of the injured man in the train. He gave evidence as to the cause of the accident at Otaki. In describing the journey up he said he had known him for a few months only. For the greater part of the journey deceased seemed all rfght, and at Halcombe witness got him some tea ; he also gave him a drop of spirits twice when he felt faint, but he could not keep it down. He was rolling about a great deal ; turned on his back and went to sleep, so witness thought, about half an hour before they reached town. Just before they arrived the guard said; " I think he is dead," but witness could not believe it. On arriving, they sent for Dr Connolly, who said the man was dead. In reply to a question by the foreman witness said, "When in Palmerston deceased said he would rather have stayed." The Coroner said he thought it was a very injudicious thing to have sent the unfortunate man to town, when he expressed a wish to stay at Palmerston. The jury returned a verdict that deceased met his death by an accident at a gravel pit at Otaki, accelerated by the long train journey to Wanganui, Which the jury thought he should not have taken, as he expressed a wish to be left at Palmerston. The following rider was added : — The jury wishes the attention of the Hospital Board drawn to the want of accomodation on the trains for sick and wounded persons. It is difficult to comment on this case of "man's inhumanity to man" without giving vent to natural feelings of indignation. The one bright feature in the case is the behaviour of Timothy Sullivan, who acted to the stranger as a brother, in his time of need. All honor to him, for his humanity. The surgeon who saw Sixon at Palmerston, when he stated he was in a fit condition to be taken the journey to Wanganui, was, no doubt, perfectly right at the time; but he could have formed no correct idea of the misery and discomfort a wounded man with fractured limbs would experience when lying on the floor of a guard's van. We have on previous similar occasions pointed out a simple means for conveying patients by train, by slinging as a cot one of the stretchers, which is supplied to every station on the line for the purpose of moving persons who may be injured on the railway. We are morally certain that if our suggestions had been adopted, the unfortunate man Sixon would be alive to this day.