THE FATAL ACCIDENTS AT OTAKI.

Manawatu Herald, Volume II, Issue 44, 27 January 1880, Page 2

THE FATAL ACCIDENTS AT OTAKI.

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In last Issue we were able to announce' little more than the bare fact that two fatal accidents had occurred after the Otaki races. We are able now to lay further particulars before our readers. The first case is that of a man named Charles Mudgway. It appears th»t he was riding at a hand gallop round the course, and was met by four ladies on horseback, viz, two of the Misses jsi'Donald, of Horowhenua^ Miss Jenkins, of Otaki, and Miss Cameron-, who was on a visit to Mr Jenkins, to whom she is related. Mudgway was riding along " full tear," whilst the ladies were going along at a sharp canter. The former, being unable to guide his horso past the ladies, struck Miss Jenkins on the leg, and glanced off, meeting Miss Cameron, both horses apd; riders striking violently. Miss Cameron and Mudgway both fell to the ground, and the former dropping on his head, a con cuasion of the brain ensued from which he died in a short time. Alias Cameron was badly bruised, and was compelled to take to her bed at once, but we hear is' now improving rapidly. Mudgway was until lately a resident of the Hutt. Ho was a 3tout man, 35 3 ears of age. Ho was a widower, having some time since lost his wife, and by his death five children, all boys, are orphaned. The other fatal accident occurred to a, child named Knnna Seymour, nenily five years old, and a daughter of Mr Thos. Seymour, of Otaki. The poor little child was the only remaining one of the family.. It appears "ttrs T. Rans'field, sis':er to Mr Seymour, had driven on to the racecourse a buggy, drawn by a rather spirited pair of horses, and had gone over the course several timP3. When about to return, the child cried to bo taken up, and driven back to town. After some demur, Mrs Ransfield agreed to do so, and a native woman entered the buggy to hold the child. The horses travelled very rapidly along the road to town, but when nearing Otaki the wheels passed over a small holo, the rapid move-, inent of the vehicie causing a violent jerk, 1 by which the native woman and child were thrown out, the child sustaining such injury ns kd to her immediate death. Dr.Hewson supposes the immediate cause of death was fracture of the sUull at the base, ns hemorrhago occurred from the noso and ears. An inquest was hold on Friday, concerning the death ot' Mudgway, and on Saturday, regarding the accidental death of Emma guyinour. Below, ire give reports of the two enquiries.