THE OHAKUNE FATALITY.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9165, 8 June 1908, Page 4

THE OHAKUNE FATALITY.

INQUEST. (Prom Our Taihape Correspondent.) . inquest on the bodies of Joseph Crown 539, Susan Brown 22, and Eva Elizabeth Brown, four months, was held on Saturday, fctti inst., hetore Hr J. P. Aldridge, Coroner, and the following juryMessrs* Richard Roth (foreman), A. Nicol, J. Body, S. Walsh, W. Wilkinson,, and J. McViach. The witnesses examined were William Street, Prank Boland, Fred W.. Parkert, resident engineer, and Sergeant Beattie. The evidence of the first two witnesses went to prove that the deceased were last seen alive on the' night of the 4th inst. at about 5.30p.m. Both of the witnesses were camped about three chains off the tent where the deceased met theirdeath. Their evidence also showed that the night was a fearful one. Nothing could be heard but the shrieking of the wind and the falling of trees in the vicinity. It would have been impossible to have heard a “cry out” supposing one was given (but we hope and feel sure that death in all oases;was instantaneous). At daylight the wind had subsided and the witness Street went to the refreshment rooms.kept by the 'deceased, Mrs Brown, and not finding anyone about looked towards the tent where the deceased slept, and was horrified to see that the back portion of the two double tents was flattened out, and a miro tree right across the ;hed portion. Tearing, away the tent he found the unfortunate victims, a complete family, all dead. The tree had fallen slanting and was across the lower portion ok the unfortunate male deceased, and struck both the unfortunate mother and child on the back portion of the head, back portion of the skull in each case of mother and child to a pulp. Death in these cases was certainly instantaneous. In the case of the male deceased the left thigh was badly broken and the face slightly bruised - When found the bodies of the'mother and child were warm, hut thefather’s body was much colder. The evidence showed that none of the trees looked at all dangerous, though there was a rimu right in front of the tent that they intended to fall on the coming Sunday. The miro which fell was a very long one about 18in. through, and from its position surrounded by much larger rimn trees was not in the least suspected, but on examining the tree on Saturday “Your Own” found that the bottom whore it broke off was completely rotten and almost like a hollow pipe in some places, there being not half an inch of solid wood, and hence the fearful result. As scon as the accident was discovered steps were immediately, taken to lift the tree off the bodies. The Resident Engineer (Mr F. Parbert) had been notified and ar« rived on the scene £and himself uncovered the tent and had the bodies removed to the adjoining ‘tent to await the arrival of. Sergeant Beattie, who was at Raetihi, and who lost no time in getting to the scene of the disaster, and had the bodies removed to Ohakune to await the arrival of the Coroner (for whose speedy arrival the Resident Engineer, Mr Furkert, had thoughtfully arranged a special from vVaioura arriving there at about 8.30 p.m. The parents and brothers (who had been wired to -by the Resident Engineer) arriving in Taihape on Friday by the 5.5 p.m. train, were thus go on by the special that night also. Everything was done'that could possibly have been done. The bodies had been decently attended to by Sergeant Beattie, assisted by some kindly ladies ab Ohakune.

After hearing the evidence the jury brought in the following verdict: That . the deceased met their death by being killed by the falling: of a tree while in bed on the night of the 4th inst., and that no blame is attachable to anyone. The event cast quite a gloom over the whole district, both adults being extremely [popular in the district. The male deceased was a steady sober man, in fact the Resident Engineer said he was a “splendid fellow,” and quite as much can he> said of the late Mrs Brown, who: was even better known, perhaps, than her husband, having control of the tea rooms at the rail head.- Ik was*indeed a sad eight to look at the. dead mother and her child clasped in her arms, both in the deep sleep, and not parted in death. And to think that only a few short hours previous the mother was seen dispensing refreshments to the traveling public on the north and soutn journey, little thinking what the nest few hours had in Store for her, and yet who will argue that it is not beat thus.

The gale that was responsible for the above ead calamity must (as was described.by a witness) have been a perfect tornado. , Numerous evidences of the fierce gale could leseen about Ohaknue and all down the line to the open country. Fallea trees could be seen on both sides of the' line and one heard and could see many evidences of very narrow escapes. In one case a tree had fallen across the fireplace portion of. a tent, and in the morning a neighbour seeing a tree across the tent went and called out to the occupant, who replied, Ob, yes, it is so, but I still breathe. ”

At Waiourn the gale was very fierce, several tents being blown down and hardly in any case was a tent fly left. J The victims of the Ohakune fatality were buried on Sunday at Ohakune, Mr Miller, church missioner, conducting the funeral service.