MIDNIGHT TRAGEDY

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 266, 4 July 1932, Page 4

MIDNIGHT TRAGEDY

MAN IN BOILING POQ\ WELL KNOWN RESIDENT MEEt TERRIBLE FATE AT WHAKA. SCALDED TO DEATH. There was a tragic ending to a •dance party at Whaka Pa on Sat. "urday evening, when Edward R0} Baxter, aged 30 years, fell into 9 hoiling pool and was so severel, scalded that he died a few hout, later in hospital. Toward tbe conclusion of the daijt Baxter, who was manager of Ju^ stationery shop in Arawa Streej went across to the dining hall in ^ Maori reserve to order supper f, his party. When returning to ti hall, he'fell into a hoiling pool cloi beside the building and received fat injuries. It appears froni statemen1 made by those associate'd with ft tragedy.._that Baxter attended tt ■dance with his friend Cyril - Smitj Ngatapiri Tomihi and three girls. about 1L30 Baxter arranged with tt girls to "go and order supper, at went out to do so with his two coa panions. When their order s ^ya practically -ready he started baclc the dance hall to call the girls. 1 a few seconds cries were heard aj it was found that the unfortuiia! man had fallen into a hoiling pt: which is situated close by the e trance to the supper-room. Ngatapiri Tomihi, in reclalling -wJ happened in a statement, said tM he was in the supper-room Smith when Baxter went out to ofl the girls. He had only been goneB few seconds when those left in « room were startled by terrim screams. Rushing from the roow Tomihi found Baxter lying full-lengj on his back in the pool, and grabM him by the clothes on his chest. Ttl Smith came and together they pulM the unfortunate man clear of ffl water. He was groaning in agocB but appeared unable to speak. the help of other Maoris they cc8 veyed the helpless man to a privaB motor car and rushed him to KiS George V. Hospital where he d:M at 5 a.m. yesterday. §| Tomihi said deceased was a sotfl man and had not been drinking. T« only reason he could advance ffl the tragic accident was that Baxtfl did not know the way back to.S hall. The hoiling pool was justM the left of the front door, about* feet from the corner of the buildiifl The ground fell sharply to the and it was possible that he trippfl over an exposed cold water pipe a rolled down the slope into the wai* It is not definitely known whetM deceased had any relatives in Zealand, but it is thought possi* that his mother lives in Wellingtffi His employer, Mr. F. W. Jupp, resides in Auckland, was apprisedS the accident by telephone, and fl mediately chartered an aeroplaueB which he arrived in Rotorua yestiH day morning at about 11 a.m. 7jB Baxter has resided in Rotorua® about 12 months as manager 9 Messrs. Jupp's store; during tfl time he made many f riends and regarded as a clean living good c9 zen. "He owned a launch on 7?® he frequently went fishing on |9 lakes. Prior to coming to Rotcfl he had travelled for some well loio9 commercial firms. He had ® served as a wireless operator on sfl eral overseas ships. The decea9 was only 30 years of age, be:» born in Dunedin in 1902. He wa9 member of the local Oddfello® Lodge. H An inquest was formally opefl by Mr. S. L. Paterson, S.M., on » day moiming, and was adjourned® die. The funeral will take placeH 2.30 p.m. to-day. ||