THE PARAPARAUMU FATALITY.

Otaki Mail, 15 February 1922, Page 2

THE PARAPARAUMU FATALITY.

DEATH OF am H. FIELD. Quite a gloom was thrown over the ’araparauimi district when it became tnown that. Mr Harry Clelland Field, i member oi an old and respected local iimily, had met his death on Monday it'ternoon through colliding with the Auckland express whilst he was motorng over a railway crossing near the store, and within a few chains of the railway station. The deceased was a promising young man of IS years, and was the son of the late Mr .John Field and of Mrs Field, and a nephew of Mr W. 11. Field. M.P., au<l was held in general respect. To the bereaved mother and other members of the family, the heartfelt sympathy of the whole district will be extended in their loss. Coiouial Inquiry. A colonial inquiry was hold at Parttparnuiuu yesterday before Mr W. G< Nation, district Coroner. Constable Satherley, of Otuki, conducted the inquest on behalf ol the police, and Messrs Hutchison (tradio inspector) and A. 1. Feasey (locomotive foreman) watched the proceedings for the ltailway Department. The Evidence. Elizabeth Field, non lux of the deceased, stated that her son left homo about 7.1 n on Monday for work, riding his motor bike. His age was IS years and live months, and he was in the best of health, lie had only been riding the motor for 13 days, but had been out on it eveiy day. He considered himself: quite a capable rider. An Eye-Witness. Louis Dabscheck, retired storekeeper, at present, residing at Paraparaumu, stated lie knew the deceased. On Monday, about fi p.m., he was on the verandah of the storo, about a chain from the scene of the accident. When witness first saw deceased he was riding the motor bike, and was in the act of crossing the railway. He was not travelling fast. The Auckland express appeared on the crossing from the direction of Wellington almost at the same instant. Witness thought deceased had got across- safely, when lie heard a crash. When the engine passed lie could see nothing of deceased or lho motor, and running over to the crossing he discovered deceased lying on the side of the line near the bike. Witness raised him up. but lit- nev<r -qmke and appeared unconscious. 11 - -'t>ced that deceased's nose was bleeding and that lie Imd been injured about the left hip. His clothing was torn, whilst one leg was under the signal wire and the other over the top. The engine appeared to -ttike just behind the saddle of the bike. The engine may have whistled, but witness never heard it. nor did he hear It coming. From the direction that deceased was approaching, tiie line and crossing were quite clear. Deceased had a clear view of the crossing both to the north and south. The 1 Mrir pulled up, and took deceased on to Otuki hospital. When witness arrived deceased moved his head. liul gave no sign of life after tbot. He had known deceased for some years, and knew him to be a steady, sober young man. , Railwayman's Evidence. I’at rick Flannelly, fireman on the on- • gine of rite Auckland express running through Paraparaumu at 2.3 on Monday afternoon, gave evidence that on approaching the station a whistle was blown, and another at the station. It was the custom to give a whistle for both station and crossing. The first ' he noticed of the accident was decent- - ed crossing between the rails, and i;s- ---’ mediately after that lie was thrown 1 clear by the engine. Witness called ’o 1 the driver who applied the emergency ’ brake, a.nd pulled the train up in Ha i own length. 3 Albert Ernest Meachen. driver in 1 charge of the Auckland express on 1 Monday afternoon, stated that his at--3 tention was called to the accident by 3 the fireman as they were passing ■ through Paraparaumti. The fireman 1 said the engine had hit a man on e bike. He applied the emergency brake , and stopped the train. He saw nothing of the man or the bike, bat felt the engine jar and the ballast being thrown under the wheels. The whistle was > blown twice before reaching the crosI sing. After stopping the train, witnew 1 ran back to see what bad happened. H" t found deceased on the side of the line, and was being supported by two men. Deceased was bleeding over one eye and his clothes were torn. He moved every few seconds, but there very no sign* of consciousness. Deceased was placed in the van and taken to Ojaki. The bike was lying close to deceased, and one wheel was torn off and lay about a chain farther on. Witness considered the engine struck the bicyc cle about the tank, as oil wag splashed on the front of the engine on the left ' side. He always gave this crossing , plenty of warning. He understood . there were two doctors on the train, and everything possible was done for deceased. ■»,- The Medical Evidence. Dr. Sharp, of Otaki. stated that he 1 received a call at 2.10 on Monday afl terroon stating that there had been an accident at Paraparaumu and that the* r ease was being taken to the Otaki hosj pitai. He saw the deceased on arrival t at the hospital and found life extinct.' , He examined the body and found that . the skull was' fractured at the base. ■ There was also a deep lacerated wound ■ of-the left buttock opening up the pel- : vis. He considered that death was due to hemorrhage and shock following os ■ the lesions sustained. He would say that death took place within about ten minutes of the accident. The blow os the skull was sufficient to cause death. Accidental Death. The Coror-ijy^f ought in a verdict that deceased Ms death by being »oc4* 'k c-.-l killed by. 'M A:fV