ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9070, 10 February 1908, Page 5

ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.

Press Association February 10. Joe Scott, the champion long distance walker, died yesterday from a cancer in the throat. [Dunedin, February 9. A child named Albert John Ravn, aged 11 mouths, whoso parents reside in Harbour Terrace, died somewhat suddenly this morning. Death is supposed to bo due to bronchitis. The child was unwell yesterday, but the parents did not consider tho_ illness sufficiently serious to necessitate medical aid.

DROWNING ACCIDENT AT, . MANGAWEKA. g (From Taihape Correspondent.) An inquest was held at Maugaweka on Saturday last before the District Coroner, Mr John P. Aldridge, and the following jurymen : —Messrs Donald Muuro. (foreman), E. Sinclair, Frank Stewart, J. Moon, Arthur Funston and Alex. Stevenson, on the body of William Bailey, who was drowned that morning. The evidence went to show that deceased, with four others, went to the river for a bathe. The deceased said that he could swim, but some of his mates who had been down to the river the day previous did not think lie could, and warned him several times to keep iu the shallow water, but he said he would he alright, and while one of the party struck out for the other side the deceased followed, despite the fact of being again warned by those on shore. Almost immediately he got into deep water. One of the party, Robert J. Stevenson, saw the poor fellow in difficulties, and at once swam to his assistauce, hut the drowning man clutched Ids would-be rescuer and got hold of his wrist, and both went to the and it was with great difficulty that Stevenson got free and got to the shore. The deceased never rose again. Commendable efforts were made by a young man named Matthew Butler to reach the body, hut without success. Iu the meantime Constable Potter had arrived on the scene, and attempts were being made to rescue the body by means of a rope drag. But just now the Rev. James Gunn, Presbyterian Minister, arrived, and, undressing, dived right on to the body, and gin _ the _ first attempt succeeded iu bringnig it to the surface. By this time the body had been in the water considerably over an lionr, and it 'was useless to attemot to restore life, aud the Rangitikei River hq,d claimed one more victim to its death roll. After hearing the evidence of R. J. Stevenson, Alex. Dobson, J. Mullins, Matthew Butler, Constable Potter, aud the Rev. James Gunn, the jury returned a verdict of accidental death by drowning iu the Rangitikei River. The jury also expressed their great approval of the plucky action of Mr R. J. Stevenson iu trying to save the deceased, and the energetic attempts of the Rev. Jas. Gunn aud M. Butler to recover the body. The unfortunate young fellow was from the South Island, and had been working on Mr Marshall’s place at Taoroa, near theMoawhanga Bridge.