DREADFUL ACCIDENT AT FOXTON.

Manawatu Herald, Volume II, Issue 106, 31 August 1880, Page 2

DREADFUL ACCIDENT AT FOXTON.

--------O----------A terrible accident occurred on the Foxton wharf on Friday morning last, when a girl named Annie Songhurst was crushed by a trolley loaded with timber passing over her right arm. The father of the child is an old soldier, who was for some time living at Halcombe, where he worked as a baker but arrived in Foxton on Thursday route for Wellington to

the deceased and her young sister appear to have got on to the line. Some men, seeing her danger, shouted out, and taking in the situation at a glance, the girl endeavoured to snatch her sister, out of the way, but before she could do so the trolley struck the two. The youngest child fell flat, and the trolley (the axle of which is only about eight inches above the ground) passed clean over her, without injuring her at all, which seems almost a miracle. The other girl fell outside the rail, but her right arm was lying along it. and was mangled fearfully. Bystanders at once hastened to assist, and the poor girl was picked up. She stood on her feet, and walked some 20 yards, but was carried the rest of the distance. On the way up to the boarding house she pathetically asked those who were carrying her, " Am I going to die ?" Dr Barber was at once sent for, and a glance showed him amputation gave-juat a chance of saving her life. At the girl's own request, chloroform was administered, but Dr Barber saw it was too strong for her, and artificial respiration was employed to restore animation. Upon animation returning, he began the operation, amputating the arm at the shoulder joint. After the operation he endeavored to induce the girl to take a little brandy and water, but she steadily refused to touch anything but milk and water. The shock to her system was too great for her to stand, and though everything medical science could do was done by Dr. Barber the poor oreature expired about 7.30 p.m., some eight hours after the operation. She was sensible to the last, and told her father she blamed no one for the accident. Very great sympathy was felt throughout the township for the . bereaved family. Mr Batt, the Foxton wharfinger, did everything in his power to assist the parents by arranging all details for the burial, &c. On Saturday morning he started a subscription list to provide funds for the funeral, the parents being poor. One of the wharf hands— Mr Connor —took the list round, and met with great success, £32 12s being collected in a few hours. The funds collected were employed in paying for the accommodation of the family at Westwood's Hotel, medical expenses, funeral, fencing grave, &c., and after settling the respective accounts £10 13s 6d remained in hand, whioh sum Mr Batt handed over to the parents on Monday. The funeral took place on Sunday afternoon, the body being interred in the Catholic Cemetery. The service was read by a layman, the Rev. Fr. Moreau being unable to attend, owing to engagements at Palmerston. Nearly 100 persons followed the body to the grave, and the general feeling of the inhabitants was one of sorrow at the untimely death of the poor girl under such distressing circumstances. We may add that the community are unanimously of opinion that the disaster was the result of pure accident, and that the railway officials are blameless in the matter. There is a strong feeling, however, that parents should be particular to prevent their children from loitering on the wharf while it is crowded with lumber, and undergoing repair. A report of the inquest will be found in another column.