FATAL ACCIDENT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 280, 16 March 1877, Page 2

FATAL ACCIDENT.

, CAPTAfIft BAiH ! (On'Hli SCHUOXKU MAID OF OTA00) By Falling Qvkis the Embankmknt on ! Tifi: .Load to the Bkkakwatkp.. Quite r. sensation was caused in town at an early hour this morning, by the intelligence that the body of a man bad been found at the edge of the water near the long railway bridge, on the road to the Breakwater. Immediately on the sad intelligence becoming known, Constable Johnstone was despatched to THK -M-KNK OK TIIK ACrIWCNT. This is situated about ."00 yards from the Breakwater. Tho Breakwater, as every one knows, is appr«'ae!iedjiy H:'. dj.p-eraiid "7T former being for foot passengers, and the latter for the railway. At this spot there is a long bridge across the railroad, and the footpath is about 50 feet above it, the hill being almost perpendicular. The spot viewed from the footway is a must dangerous one, and it has often been a subject of wonder that a substantial railing has not been erected to guard against accidents. On arriving at the bridge the Constable discovered that the man had ItOLLKD JifrtVX TIJK HANK, over the bridge, and on to the beach. The body was here found at half-past six a.m., by a man named Duncan Young, who is employed as night watchman at the Breakwater, and who had just nnished his duties. "It was at once identified as being that of IH'NI'AN BAIN, MASTER OK THK MAID OF OTAGO, which is at present lying at the Breakwater. Young immediately sent word to the Police Station, and upon the arrival of Constable Johnstone the body was removed to the Northern Hotel. From what we can learn, the unfortunate man was last seen at twelve o'clock last night when HE LKFT FOK THE BREAKWATER.. He must have taken the footpath, and the night being dark, on coming to the spot immediately above the railway bridge, his ioot had evidently slipped, and not being able to keep his balance, lie must have been precipitated to the bottom, causing INSTANTAJTEOCS DEATH. The body is not disfigured, the primary cause of death being fracture of the skull, Bain evidently having fallen on the top of

his head on a rock. The body was found just on the edge of the' water, and the clothes were completely saturated with spray from ijhe ocean. Had it rolled a few yards further, it would probably have been taken out by the tide, and perhaps his fate would never have been known. We believe Bain has had several very narrow escapes on previous occasions in Dnnedin, Timaru, and Biverton. He leaves a wife and family in Dunedin, and much sympathy is expressed for them in their sad bereavement. The vessels at the Breakwater have their flags half-mast high in token of respect for the deceased, and quite a gloom has been cast over those working at the Breakwater, as Captain Bain was both well known and highly respected. ♦ An inquest on the body of Duncan Bain was held this afternoon, at the [Northern Hotel. The jury returned a verdict of " Accidental Death," caused by falling down an embankment while proceeding from Oamaru to the Oamaru Breakwater ; and also added a rider to the effect, "That the Harbour Board be requested to take steps to prevent a reoccurrence of such accident in future."