RIVERTON.

Southland Times, Issue 664, 1 May 1867, Page 2

RIVERTON.

MELANCHOLY ACCIDENT. (PBOM OTJE OWN COBBESPONDENT.) On Friday afternoon, the 26th inst., a Magisterial inquiry was held by D. S. Lawlor, Esq., E.M., respecting the death, through drowning, of Percival M'Lean Oldham, a settler at Eyall's Bush, aged 31 years, brother of the Eev. "W. Oldham, Church of England Minister in this town. The Eev. W. Oldham, on being sworn, stated as follows : — My name is William j Falcon Oldham. I. knew the deceased Fercival M'Lean Oldham. He was my brother. I last saw him alive about twelve o'clock this day. I recognise the remains now lying in this room as that of my brother. He met his death in this i way— He was bathing in Jacob's Eiver, near the Maori Bainga, between twelve and one o!clock. I was with him, but not bathing. He swam from the Maori Eainga to the Triworks Point, and as he was returning, he showed symptoms of exhaustion or fatigue ; he; eventually sank. I went into the water after him. I could see nothing- of him, and had great difficulty in reaching the shore myself. I then gave the alarm. I saw him taken out of the water by Captain Tall and Herbert Simpson, assisted by others. He was immediately conveyed to the Marine Hotel. From the appearance of my brother at the time he was taken out of the water, I concluded he was drowned. His age was 31 years. .. He was not married. I don't think he sank from exhaustion. He was a good swimmer. He may have been under water for a quarter of an hour-before he was recovered. He was not subject to fits. The Eev. J. M'Gilvary and James M'Gilvary confirmed the evidence of the above witness. Charles Herbert Simpson (ferryman) deposed as follows : — I knew the deceased Mr Percival M'Lean Oldham. I last saw him alive walking on the beach between twelve and bne~this~xlay. Shortly afterwards I assisted in taking him out of the water ; he "was then quite insensible ; he had then no appearance of life, so far as I could see. I was attracted to the spot by hearing cries for help. There was about six feet of water where he was lying, The tide was first quarter flood. Close to, where the deceased was found there was deep water, but I believe, from the condition,of the tide, he may have floated from the deep to the shallow water, as the tide was setting in that direction. I helped to convey him to the Marine Hotel. I have seen the remains, and recognise it as that which I helped to take out of the water. lam a ferryman of Jacob's Eiver. Dr Densham arrived at the hotel about the same time that I reached with the body. I was present part of the time that Dr Densham was endeavoring to restore him. The time occupied in conveying him to the hotel from that of getting him out of the boat* may have been about six or seven minutes. From the time that I heard the first call to that of getting him out of the water may have been six or eight minutes. He may have been removed to the beach in one minute. I rowed the boat. The Eev Mr Oldham, and Capt Tall endeavored to restore animation. I am not acquainted with the preliminary means lof restoring animation, to persons supposed to be drowned. Sergeant "William Edward Shury stated : — About 10 minutes or half-past one this day, I was informed by Mr "Whittington that the Eev Mr Oldham's brother was drowned. I immediately got the drags and hastened to the spot where the accident happened, and was informed that the body was lying at the Marine Hotel. I found Dr Densham and others employed in endeavoring to restore anir mation. I assisted in endeavoring to do according to the rules laid down r by.the National Life Boat Institution. I persevered for about an hour, when Dr Densham said it was useless to continue any longer. . : ■ Eichard Densham sworn, stated as follows :-r . . My name is Eichard Densham. lam a duly qualified medical practitioner, I came to the Marine Hotel after having been sent for. I found the deceased as a drowned person would be when just taken' from the water. I tried to restore animation by the means recommended by Drs. Marshall, Hall, and Sylvester, but was unsuccessful. In toy opinioo^ttie deceased met with his death from suffocation arising ' from drowning. He gave no symptoms of life at any time.. I consider the deceased , was drowned, not resulting from cramp, but more probably from exhaustion-. I have known three minutes to drown a person, and I have known a longer time ; I' don't think- a person could be restored who had been a quarter of an .hour under water. • _/■ ~ ..Y; v - : •-..•■-. - .:■-■■■' The jury returned a* yardiofc that the said Percival M'Lean Oldham died from Buffpcation caused by being accidentally drowned while bathing in. Jamb's R^yer,