FATAL RAILWAY ACCIDENT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 194, 31 August 1901, Page 2

FATAL RAILWAY ACCIDENT

A sad [accident occurred on Friday morning at the raifway crossing fn Watson-stieet, leading to the Oemeitery, by which Mr. Jas. B, Lwson, well-known in .New Plymouth, lost his [life. From what can be learned, it appears that Mr. Lawson was driving cows to a'-piii'dbck, in which he grazed them, after miking, snd was crcssing the railway wheu the 8 o'clock south train approached. Mr. C. Rampton, an employee on the railway, was working by the Henui railway bridge, aDd states that on looking up as he heu'd the train comiog he saw something tblfown up in frout of the engine. ft is surmised that Mr. Lawson, in endeavouring to drive a cow clear of the line w<is struck by th« engins and thrown on to the cattle s^op. The engine-driver puiled up promptly and with the guard weut back and picked up Mr. Lawson, who was still breathing. The guard (Mr Walker) at once conuinuDicafed by telfphore with the police, and Constable more proceeded to the scene of thi accident. Dr. Fookes was als) ssnt for. As soon as Constable Baltimore arrived Mr, Lawson was removed to his residence, which is near by, but expired before the house was reached.

The only injury apparent was a severe bruise on the back of the head, and it is not certain whother this was caused by the engine or by the fall on to the cattle-stop. LATEB PARTICULARS. The fireman on the engine said Mr. Lxwson apparently endeavoured to get some cattle across the line, which at this place runs along a hollow, the approaches on either side being steep and having more or less bank on either side. The cows got over the cro'sinp, and Mr. Liwson was seen to be clearing the 1 nf», but must have b?en a second or < o too late and so was caught the engine and thrown forward. The crossing where this sad accident happened h one of the most dangerous in the vicinity of the town, esprcially as it is the road to the cemetery, and on s'ver.il occ sions there have hem some narrow escapes at thisdeith-tr<p, which urgently needs bridgit g ev.-r. The deceased gentleman waj wellknown in New Plymouth, having held several important public positions at various times. He loaves a widow and family ot three—two sons end a daughter—who will receive the sympathy of a large circle of acquaintances in their terribly sudden bf r^aveineot. An inquest will be held this morning ttb lOo'clcck.

MEMOIK. The late Mr. Lawson was 70 years of age and a native of Edinburgh, Scotland, coming of a very o'd Scotch family who for centuries held the estate of Oairnmuir, Peebl<shire. So long back fis 1488 Sir R/chard Liwsin, of He-riggf, was appointed Justice Clerk, !and he it was'who purchase! the Oairnmuir fstate, but the times were warlike and the illustrious justice clerk donned the sword and foil at Firddon. From that time onwards the family tree has been carefully preserved. One of the sisters of the deceased is Lady Boyd, widow of Sir John Boyd, late Lord Provost of E linburgb. Another sister (Mrs. Oousen) is domiciled in America. His brother, Mr. John Lawsoi, reside* j in town, and at Chrisfchurch there is a' cousin, Mr. Lwrocce Lwson Brown,j After his arrival here the iate Mr. Lawson spent some years in the office of

Mr Kitchie, Clerk of the Oour 1 , &-A during the w ' time actjd as Qurtar-• nrtter Sergeant in the Militia, Oa resuming civi; life he filled the prntien of clerk of thj Provincial Council, and on tbe formation of the County Counr '1 wns appoint- I clerk to that body, and re 'ni-.d that offi.:e for many yoo<'S. On retirement he led a quiet 'ife, ind though of u very rcsei ved nature, his inn it" tiolii x'o-s end courlesy w>s ncstmarkeJ, tei. <g evidently iraceibb ti the sharp teiistic trait wliich if. iuch a prominent feiture of . iie old dig.iified S otch families. The d easi'd leaves a widow, who is a sister of Mr | William Bayly, a daughter (Miss L»w- ] >"i), and two soi , Mc~sis Doug': ? aid Percy Lawson.