The Pahiatua Fatality

Feilding Star, Volume XV, Issue 36, 11 August 1893, Page 2

The Pahiatua Fatality

+. The Star Rives the following particulars :-— On Monday evening, at about a quarter to five, one of the most terrible fatalities we have had to record occurred on the property of Mr Rains, on the Mangahao road. A man named James Miller, and one of Mr Rains' ions (Matthew), went out shortly before the hour mentioned to milk, and the youngest son (Harrj), a bright little fellow, just over eight jears of age, desired to accompany them. As it was raining in torrents at the time, the elder son told the younger one not to go to the shed ; and the little fellow said he did not intend to — that he was going to an outhouse. The elder son and the unfortunate man Miller then went on to the cowshed and proceeded to milk. Miller got in one cow, and the elder of the Bains boys endeavoured to drive in the one that he was to milk ; but for some unaccountable reason the animal would not enter the shed. At last he decided to milk the cow outside, and it is to this circumstance that he owes his life ; for in a few moments after he had sat down an enormous white pine tree, measuring at its thickest part nearly seven feet in diameter, came crashing down on the shed. It is almost needless to pay that the whole building was smashed to atoms. At first it was thought tbat only poor Miller had been in the shed when the tree fell, but when the alarm was given it was found that the little boy (Harry) had disregarded lus brother's warning, and that he had followed Miller over to the shed, and also met with the same awfully sudden death. When the news of the disaster reached the neighbors every effort was made to fecover the bodies of the victims. Miller was crushed almost out of human shape, his brains and pieces of the skull being scattered all over the muddy floor of the shed, aad his body otherwise badly crushed. The little boy was not nearly so much disfigured, a fracture of the skull being the cause of death. His legs were, however, also broken* The greatest sympathy is felt for theTtains family and Mr and Mrs E. Sullivan, who aro naturally quite prostrated by the affliction that has befallen them. A verdict of accidental death was re> turned at the mquest.