YOUNG LADY'S DEATH

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 224, 16 January 1911, Page 5

YOUNG LADY'S DEATH

MISS TURNBULL SUCCUMBS. FROM TWO MIGHTS' EXPOSURE, It was reported on Friday that Mm Turnbull, of New Plymouth, liad gone out walking on Thursday, and bad not returned, it was not until Jate on Friday afternoon that it was fully realised that the affair was serious, for her mother believed her to be staying witn friends. On Saturday, however, an exhaustive search was organised, and the girl was found lying in a paddock on the Smart road, probably no more than 000 yards from the publie highway. She was quite prostrated and helpless as the result of her exposure on two of the coldest nights experienced here for some time past Bruises aboufc the body and hands would seem to indicate the the unfortunate girl had had a very bad time, the bruises possibly being caused by her falling whilst wandering about at night. On enquiry last evening we learned that Miss Turnbull was progressing favorably. She was suffering from the effects of the exposure, having a slight touch of pneumonia, and was as yet only semi-conscious. Later, however, she became worse, the pneumonia finding little resistance in her weakened system, and Miss Turnbull passed away peacefully about midnight, without having regained consciousness. Miss Turnbull was deservedly popular here, as she had been in Hawera before coming here. Mrs. Turnbull, who has lost husband (Mr. A. Turnbull, S.M.) and daughter in a few Bhort month*, will nave the sympathy of a wide circle of friends.

LOST. The full fatts concerning the disappearance are as follow:—Miss Turnbull arrived in Fitzroy by 'bus on Thursday morning for the purpose of visiting friends, who all appear to have been out when she called. She then went as far as tlfe Waiwaikaiho river, near the abattoirs, and crossed the river there. She was met on landing by Skipper (a Maori), who hospitably gave her tea etc., and here she dried her clothes. She then informed Skipper that she wished to visit the Jackson's on Smart road and was shown the'right direction. On the South road she met Miss Jackson, and conversed with her, and on leaving was'overtaken by Mrs. Groom, who was driving, and offered her a lift as far as Mrs. Jackson's. Mrs. Groom saw Miss Turnbull enter 'Jackson's drive and close the gate. This was about 1 pm. on Thursday. From that time until just before 5 p.m. on Saturday, when she was found, no authentic information can be given as regards anyone having seen her.-

THE SEARCH. Mr. Locke, who bag a farm further up the Smart road than the Jackson'g (about a mile), stated that on Friday morning, whilst milking, ho saw a woman at the end of one of his paddocks, walking close to the road and then crossing the road. At this time he was unaware that anyone was lost, and did not bother his head about the matter until some time afterwards when he was informed about the disappearance. Thinking the woman he saw might have been the missing person, he searched a ploughed paddock on the opposite side tf the road, and found tracks (apparently a woman's) leading down the paddock towards the gullies and high ground that lie between Smart road and the Waiwaikaiho river. The tracks were soon lost in the grass and undergrowth, and it was impossible to recover them. A Maori boy stated that he saw a woman wandering about near the same place, and a settler stated that his cattle were assembled, looking from the brow of a hill, as if at something unusual, but not imving heard of the disappearance, he took no further notice. This was all the searchers had to go on. Although a few searchers were out on Friday, there was no general attempt at a systematic search until Saturday. The Rev. Mr. Kempthorne, who had been out on Friday, was indefatigable, and obtained on Saturday a large reinforcement. These searched the country side in the morning, and they were reinforced by Detective Boddam, Constable Egan, 20 Boy Scouts, and some of the Taranaki Rifles, and in the afternoon a further detachment of gentlemen (cricketers and others) assisted by searching the bank of the river on the Fitzroy side. The Rifles moved up the Smart road side of the river. FOUND AT LAST.

Just before 5 p.m., ns some of the searchers were having a cup of tea at Mrs. Street's (headquarters of the search party), the welcome news came that the missing lady was found. The discovery was made in a deep gully on Mr. Colson's property, not more than half a mile from Mr. Jackson's gate, by Private Coleman of the Taranaki Rifles, who had with him Private Thomas Buxton,, of the same corps. These two were just on the point of moving towards the river, when Private Coleman happened to glance round, and saw the prostrate body. The news was at once spread. In the meantime, the finders chafed the lady's hands and administered a slight stimulant, and soon had the satisfaction of feeling the hands grow warm and seeing the color return to the face. The unfortunate girl gave no sign of consciousness, except for fl gentle moan now and then when moved.

A dray was at once procured, driven by W. Martin, and the lady was takento the main road, the ]Jev. Kempthorß* and Constable Boulton. who was on this scene immediately after the lady was found, taking charge. A motor-car, be-. longing to Mr. W. A. Jury, luckily was at hand, and was commandeered. The lady was brought straight into town accompanied by the Rev. Mr. Kempthorne and Constable Houlton. At Fits!roy, Dr. McCleland, who had been telephoned for, was picked up, and Miss Turnbull was taken to her mother's residence, where Nurse Pike was in attendance. The ground where the lady was found had already been passed over several times, and Private Coleman, the finder, states that he himself had twice previously been near the spot without seeing the young lady. This will show what a very awkward bit of country it was. .. Mrs. Street, whose house' on Smart road was made the headquarters of the ; search party, dispensed unbounded hospitality, and is to be warmly thanked. Miss Turnbnll had bruises on her forehead and. hands, but when found was perfectly dressed, with the exception of a kie-kie hat, fie and collor, which were alongside her.