CASUALTIES

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10615, 14 June 1920, Page 5

CASUALTIES

FIERCE BATTLE FOR .LIFE DESPERATE EFFORTS AT RESCUE IX ICE-COLD MAT Elk. (Special to the “Times.” At tho inquest on the body of "William Read, who was drowned in tho Puniu river near Te Awamutu (and of which but brief mention was telegraphed to tlie “Times”), sensational evidence was given by deceased’s partner. Feist, and assistant, lialiburton. It appears than Read, who was ou horseback, attempted to lord a deep backwash in the hood, to get to an iamucl wuere mere were rabbits. Feist warned him but deceased only laughed, and rode into the water. budueniy fus nurse went down, precipitating Read into twenty Iceti of water. Itaubunon stripped to go to his rescue, but Read said, “I’m ail right.” HaliOurtou. was going inshore when Read called, ••.Kaipli, help mo.'’ Flaliburton swam back througn icy water and luanaged to get hold of Read. He commenced to swim back, carrying Read, and had almost reached shore when internal cramps overtook him. Calling to heist, who was on the bank, ho tried his hajrdcst to retain hold of Read, who was lying a deadweight in hia arms. His cramp increased, however. Feist plunged into tho water and.after difucuiiy, succeeded in drasgmg Haliburton inshore, though, tho latter was still holding Read. When the bank was reached heist caught a shrub and made to pull himself on shore. The shrub broke, and all three were carried out into the swirling flood water. Read was lose and sank. With- great dieculty, owing to terrific cold water, the other two exhausted men reached the bank. Read could not be found. Hhliburton and Feist, despite the intense ,cold swam around, but could not find the i body. The body was recovered next day. Constable Doyle gave evidence for the police, and the coroner found a verdict of accidental drowning. Read was well known as a gentleman rider in Pahiatua, ACCIDENTALLY SHOT. DEATH OF MR D. J. DONOVAN. It was briefly mentioned in the “Times” that the young man Daniel J. Donovan, victim of the shooting accident- at Putaruru a few days ago, had died in Waikato hospital. His cousin, Edwin Donovan, has now made a statement to tho police that it was his gun which accidentally discharged, and not the deceased’s gun. They had been standing on the road for a time, when, with the remark. ‘There are no rabbits here."’ he (Edwin) swung his gun on to his shoulder. It exploded unexpectedly, and his cousin received the lull charge in his face. The hammer of the trigger must have caught in his pocket. Medical evidence showed that the cause of death was meningitis of tho brain, due to gunshot injuries. MOTOR CYCLISTS~*INJURED. Two brothers, Robert and John McCaige, when riding a motor cycle in the Hamilton district, in pillion fashion, crashed into a trap. Ono brother had hia collar-bone, broken, and the other received facial injuries. Both were removed to the hospital, where they are doing wed. MOTOR CYCLIST INJURED. A single man named Jack Taylor, aged 31 years, residing at SO, Wallace street, was admitted to the hospital at 6.30 p.m. yesterday suffering from injuries to his head as a result of a fall down an embankment at School road, Wadestown. It appears that Taylor was-riding a motor-bicycle and when h© was endeavouring to change gear the machine ran backwards and threw him down the embankment. He was not severely injured.