ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 214, 19 December 1910, Page 5

ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES

THE LINWOOD FATALITY. By Tolograph.—l'fess Association. Christchurch, Last Night. At the inquest oil Mrs. Emnm Staples, 8G years of age, yiio was burned to death in a fire at Linwood on Friday night, Elizabeth Staples, a daughter of the deceased, stated that she lived with her mother alone. On the previous evening, as she was holding a lamp reading to her mother, the bed-curtains caught fire. She tried to extinguish them, but could not, and was burnt in the attempt. SJie tried to save her mother, but failed. It was quite impossible, and she herself was taken out of the house. Her mother could not speak, H. C. Jones, who gave the alarm, stated that he entered the house at the back, but could get no further than the door of deceased's bedroom, owing to the smoke and flames. The fire was in the two front rooms, and the passage. There was not a soul about when he went into the house. The deceased had been bed-ridden for sixteen years. She ■fltes inclined to be' deaf, and was paralysed. The Coroner recorded a verdict that deceased was accidentally burned to death.

DEATH BY DROWNING.

Dargaville, Last Night, x At an inquest held on the body of Arthur Henry Lewis, late engineer of the Northern Wairoa Dairy Company's cream steamer Pioneer, evidence went to show that the deceased worked very long hours, usually from 5.30 a.m. to 5 or 6.30 p.m., and sometimes when the engines were jgiving trouble he commenced at 3.30 a.m. Dr. Young gave evidence, and it was shown that the deceased was buried without a post mortem examination having been made. Under cross-examination by Mr. R. 0. Coates, who represented the Norwich Union Accident Insurance Company, he stated that he had only made a superficial examination. There was a contused spot over the eye. There might have been a fracture of the skull caused by the propeller, but he could not tell without a post mortem examination. The Coroner explained tljat there must have been a misunderstanding. When he gave directions over the telephone that an examination be made he had meant a post mortem. Constable McDonnell said that the Coroner had only ordered an examination of the body, and that was done. After considerable evidence had been given, the Coroner (Mr. Webb) returned a verdict that the deceased met his death by drowning, there being no evidence to show how he came into the water.

A CORPSE IN THE SEA.

Christchurch, Last Night. Constable Rowe, of New Brighton, was informed this morning that a body had been seem floating in the sea at North New Brighton. He; has gone to search, but the result is not known yet. It is supposed the body may be that of 'Lawrence, who went overboard from the steamer Maori on Thursday morning, though it is thought too early for his body to be washed ashore yet.

A FATAL COLLISION.

Christchurch, Last Night.

Lester Green, 52 years of age, a plasterer, of New Brighton, who on the evening of the 12th inst. was injured by colliding with a tram-car, died at the hospital this morning as result of his injuries. He whs thrown off his bicycle on to the fender of the car, and got one rib fractured, and a slight depression of the skull.

A BATHING FATALITY. Greymouth, Last Night. A sad fatality occurred on Saturday afternoon. Mr. Anderson, manager of the abattoirs, went for a bathe in the surf with two companions. He was wading in about three or four feet of water, when he crted out to his companions, who were some distance away. Before they could reach him he gave another cry and disappeared. He was quickly brought to the surface, but life was extinct. On the / doctor's arrival it was. found that death was due to heart failure. Deceased leaves a widow and two children. The sad affair cast quite a gloom over the town, for Anderson was well and favorably known.