ELEVEN KILLED

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 237, 27 December 1927, Page 9

ELEVEN KILLED

Fatalities of Christmas Week-End m Four Deaths at Level Crossings NO fewer than eleven deaths resulted from Christmas weekend accidents. Level crossings were responsible for four of these—two young men were killed by a train at Waitahuna, Central Otago; a farmer was run over by a goods train at Clyde, and a woman was run down and killed at Morningside. Two young men were drowned when a sailing boat capsized at Wellington ; a Marine fell from the gangway of H M S. Diomede, at Devonport, and was killed a young man was drowned in the Manawatu River; a Maori boy was thrown from his horse and killed at Gisborne; a man was suffocated when a car capsized into a swamp near Danneyirke and a woman was knocked down by a motor-car and killed at Christchurch,

YACHTSMEN DROWNED SMALL BOAT CAPSIZES GIRL ATTEMPTS RESCUE Pt ess Association. WELLINGTON, Monday. On Saturday evening David Lander and Donald Mackay, both of Wellington, were drowned when a 14-footer centreboard boat, manned by the two deceased and Keith Staff, also of Wellington, capsized. After sailing across the harbour to Days Bay, they started on the return trip to Seatoun. and when in the vicinity of Somes Island the boat capsized. The three occupants climbed on to the keel. Staff, who is a good swimmer, observing that the yacht ■was drifting toward the island, left It to swim ashore. Mr. A. G. Bennett, senior inspector of health In charge of the quarantine station at the island, stated that at 6.40 p.m. he met Staff on the island. He was in an exhausted condition. He mentioned that a yacht had capsized and that he had swum ashore leaving the other two. With members of his family, including his daughter Miss Beryl Bennett, a school teacher from Waikato, Mr. Bennett made his way to the shore. The boat was in sight with the two lads on it. Mr. Bennett endeavoured unsuccessfully to attract the attention of a passing Days Bay ferry. Staff and Miss Bennett then made their way to the furthest point oil the rocks. Miss Berwiett then entered the water and swam to the boat, which had drifted to within 100 . to 150 yards off the rocks. Staff also went into the water. In the * meantime one youth and disappeared. Miss Bennet swam around the boat but saw no sign of life. When she found there was no hope she returned to the island, meeting on the way young Staff, whose effort had also tailed. The boat drifted ashore, but there was no sign of the bodies. DOUBLE FATALITY CAR RUN DOWN BY TRAIN Press Association. DUNEDIN, Monday. A double fatality occurred at Waitahuna at 6.50 this morning, when a train and a motor-car collided. The victims were Joseph Gibbon Hamilton, of Christchurch, aged 25 years, and Arthur McGookin, of Mosgiel, aged 30 years. The two men, who had been staying at Waltahuna with relatives, left by car for Waipori, where they intended to spend the day with a party which was following in two other cars. When the car containing Hamilton and McGookin reached a railway crossing only three chains from the house at which they, were staying it was struck by a train and both men were killed instantly, il . MARINE KILLED

r fall from gangway Through falliug from the gangway H.M.S. Diomede at 5 p.m. on Sun* day, a marine, William Hill Woodruff, a Ked 25, received head injuries from which he died three hours later. Aa Woodruff was running down the gangway on his way to the city, he slipped and fell over the liand-rope °n to a log fender beside the wharf. His skull was fractured by the fall. Two friends jumped overboard and hauled the injured man to the deck. He was rushed to the sick bay in the yards, but died at 8 o’clock in spite of the efforts of two doctors from the ship. An inquest opened yesterday before Mr. F. K. Hunt. S.M., was adjourned after formal evidence of identification had been given. BATHER DROWNED Press Association. PALMERSTON N., Monday. An 18-year-old youth named Cyril Coombe was drowned in the Mana*atu River this afternoon while bathing. Deceased, who was unable to swrim. was swept by the current into a deep hole. Two of his companions went to his assistance, but they were clutched by the drowning lad is such a manner that they had to fight to free themselves. in the struggle one of the rescuers "as almost drowned, and all the third lad's strength was required to get his companion ashore. The body of Uoombe has not yet been recovered. RUN OVER BY GOODS TRAIN Press Association. DUNEDIN, Monday. A sheep farmer, Mr. Stephen Aljjnonsus Spain, aged 28. was run over bv a goods train at Clyde at the weekend. He was driving a motor-car and apparently missed the road and was humped out of the car when crossing ,ha railway line. J J r - Spain was unconscious when tiui** 1 UP an< * hiS in juries proved

SMOTHERED UNDER CAPSIZED MOTOR-CAR

Press Association. DANNEVIRKE, Monday. A motor-car containing Messrs. Charles Dennis Murphy, Con Murphy a “<l Frank Bishop, all of Norsewood, while proceeding from Dannevirke to Norsewood late on Christmas morning, went over an Sft bank about a mile from Nprsewood. The accident occurred about 1 a.m. The three men were pinned underneath a three-seater car in a bog, and they were found by two motor-cyclists about 6.20 a.m. Mr. Charles Murphy, single, aged 40, was dead, having apparently been suffocated, while his companions suffered from shock. They were very exhausted, but were able to keep their heads above the water. Mr. Bishop was driving the car, and he pulled to the side to let an approaching car pass. Mr. Bishop’s car, however, left the road, and fell into the swamp.

FOUND HANGED IN STABLE

Press Association. ASHBURTON, Monday. A single young man, named Rodney James Smith, committed suicide at his home at Rakaia on Christmas morning. At the inquest it was stated that he was in good health, was not depressed and had no worries. He conversed with his two brothers in their bedrooms at 2.30 on Christmas morning, but gave no indication of an intention to commit suicide. Deceased was discovered by his mother in the morning hanging by a rope in the stable. He had been drinking but not to excess. At one previous Christmas he threatened to commit suicide. A verdict that deceased hanged himself while of unsound mind was returned. YOUNG MAORI BOY KILLED Press Association. GISBORNE, Monday. Christmas Eve was marred by a fatal accident near Manutuke, ten miles from Gisborne, a Maori boy, George Rikirangi, aged 13, son of Rangi Rikirangi, being fatally injured through being thrown from his horse. A motor-lorry conveying wool to the town was crossing a small bridge, when Rikirangi rode on to the bridge from the other end. The horse shied or stumbled and Rikirangi was thrown, striking his head. He fractured his skull and died almost immediately. KNOCKED DOWN AND KILLED Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH. Monday. A fatal motor accident occurred on Saturday evening, Mary Rutledge, single, aged 53, residing at 14, Rossall Street. Fendalton, being knocked down and killed by a motor-car in Bealey Avenue, near Park Terrace. The car, which was driven by Mr. Alfred Vivian Whitta, of 47, Rossall Street. Fendalton, was driving west along the avenue, when the woman suddenly stepped out of the dark into the glare of the headlights. The car struck her, but was stopped quickly. The woman was picked up from the roadway and removed to the hospital, but she was dead on arrival. She had been in ill-health for some time and a doctor who had attended her stated she would not be able to stand much shock. BATHER’S DEATH Press Association. TIMARU, Monday. A resident named Frederick Shields, aged 68, a plasterer, died suddenly when bathing in shallow water at Caroline Bay to-day. After eating his dinner on the beach he went into the sea and it is supposed that he became seized by cramp. Numerous other bathers went to Shields’s assistance, but all efforts at resuscitation were fruitless. The decesised was a married man with a grown-up family. UNKNOWN MAN’S BODY FOUND Press Association. DUNEDIN, Monday. The bodv of a man about 30 years of age was found floating in the wAter at the Purakanui seaside resort, about 15 miles north of Dunedin, at noon on Christmas Day. The man was sft 6in in height. When found, the body, which has not yet been identified, was clothed only in a woollen undershirt. WEEK-END ACCIDENTS ATHLETES INJURED (Special to THE SUN.) WELLINGTON, Monday. Two competitors in the mile and three-mile events at the Australian and New Zealand athletic championship meeting to-day were injured by falls. H. C. Morris suffered a slight concussion and abrasions to the face, and L Manning had his collarbone broken. Morris’s injury was dressed on the field. Manning was removed to hospital. COLLISION IN FOG (From Our Own Correspondent) HAMILTON, Monday. A collision between two motor-cai-3 i occurred during * to* to Eureka

Avenue, half way between Hamilton and Morrinsville, early yesterday morning. One car was; owned and driven by Mr. H. Drummond. taxidriver, Hamilton, and the other was driven by a visitor. Both vehicles were badly smashed, but the occupants were uninjured. AUCKLAND YOUTH HURT As a result of a fall from a motorcycle this afternoon, a youth, Lionel Hopwood, of Shelly Beach Road, Auckland, sustained a fracture of the right leg. He was admitted to the Waikato Hospital.