ACCIDENTS & FATALITIES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 19, 14 May 1914, Page 8

ACCIDENTS & FATALITIES.

A MIRACULOUS ESCAPE. [Per Press AbsooiationJ . A very peculiar accident happened at Pungarehu on Tuesday, says the New Plymouth “Herald,” Sir James Fleming, a well-known settler on tne Cape Road, having a miraculous escape from drowning. Mr Fleming went out to work on his farm, being engaged in removing some fencing, and, following the custom adopted by many farmers, instead of rolling-up the wire, which is a troublesome process, was hauling it away in long lengths. To do this he attached one end of the wire to the side and at the rear of a dray, and then proceeded to drive across the farm, dragging the wire after him. Mr Fleming had to go down a slope in order to negotiate a creek, but the wire cut a hole in the top of the hill and eventually became a fixture, with the result that the horse and dray were tipped clean over whilst crossing the stream, and Mr Fleming himself was pinned down in the stream, face downwards, by the dray, which was resting across his right leg. however, his head was just above water, which was not so deep here as in that part of the stream where the horse lay. The animal was entangled in the harness, and after struggling for half an hour or so was drowned. As Mr Fleming did not return to the homestead for dinner, one of the men engaged on the farm went ocross about 4 o’clock to where he had been working, and found him in the perilous position already described, and from which he was immediately extricated. Mr Fleming had remained in this position, in icy cold water, for fully four hours. With vonderful presence of mind he had scooped up all rhe stones within reach | in order to make a pillow for his head, in case he should faint, but he once lost consciousness. Medical help was obtained, and it was I found that Mr Fleming was suffering l very much from exposure and from contusions of the right leg, which! had been aggravated to a very greati extent during the struggles of the horse, which continuously moved the j dray as it rested on the limb.

Upon making inquiries to-day we were informed that Mr Fleming’s condition was very satisfactory. He had a marvellous escape from drowning, and, apart from this, manj men would- have succumbed to the exposure. ; j f (I - - LOVE-SICK SWAIN'S SUICIDE. vjui, . Dunedin, May 13. At the 'inquest on the body of Hugh Stewart; 'found dead in the Prince af Wales i Hotel this morning, the evidence showed that deceased appeared jo be in good spirits yesterday. Ho bought a revolver at a pawn shop, rind informed a friend he wanted it “for a hit of sport.” Constable Sorrell said he had interviewed the young lady with whom the deceased was supposed to be in love, and sher. said she had informed Stewart some, time ago that she could never marry him, on account of the difference ,im their religious beliefs. The coroner returned a verdict that deceased ;<lied from the effects of a gunshot wound, self-inflicted Avhile in a- state of temporary insanity.