ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 171, 6 December 1912, Page 5

ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES

DROWNED IN A BREWER'S VAT.

Bv Telegraph—Press Association. Christchurch, Last Night. A fatal accident occurred to-day at the Union Brewery, Bath street, the victim being a young man named John Whitman Gray, 23 years of age, who resided with his parents at Sandyford street, Sydenham. According to a statement made 10 the police, it was Gray s duty to clean out the vats by playing on them with hot water from the side, so as to rid them of gas. At 1.15 a.m. another employee, Victor Coleher found deceased face downwards in the bottom of a vat, with the hot water still running. When the body was found there was no evidence of fumes, but appearances pointed to death being due to suffocation. A doctor was called in and pronounced life to be extinct, and the body was removed to the morgue. Deceased was last seen alive by Coleher, at l-> 5 p.m., when he was in good health and spirits. It is supposed that he was overcome by gases and fell into the vat, being scalded bv the hot water pipe.

SERIOUS BICYCLE ACCIDENT.

Timaru, Last Night.

A remarkable and serious accident marred the local road race of the Temuka Caledonian Society this afternoon. An eager crowd near the winning point formed a narrow lane for the riders. Air. George Ward, the president of the Societj% in the front line, dropped a pencil, and' stooped to pick it up. Before he recovered himself a rider eaine along, probably at twenty-five miles an hour, and his pedal struck Air. Ward on the side of the head. He fell unconscious, bleeding at the mouth, nose and ears. He was conveyed to the hospital in a critical condition. The cyclist was thrown but was unhurt.

ALLEGED LYSOL POISONING.

Auckland, Thursday

Evelyn Brace .veil, a single woman, a<red 29. disd suddenly at Onehunga. Indications point to lysoi poisoning. She had been despondent lately.

A BOWLER MISSING. Dargaville, Thursday. A party of Auckland howlers who took part*at the opening of the Dargaville Club yesterday were returning by special steamer last night, and when six miles from the \eads, Roddy McGregor, the well-known three-quarter footballer, who had remained on deck, was missed, he apparently having gone overboard. No trace was found. The steamer put back to the riverside port.

OLD SETTLER'S SUDDEN DEATH

Taihape, Thursday. Joseph Green, one. of the original_ settlers here, dropped down dead last night. He had been dialing a bull from a neighbour's paddock. He was much exhausted, but bailed up his cows and went to the separating room, where he was found dead ten minutes after. Heart failure was the cause.

A WAGGON ACCIDENT.

Te Kuiti, Thursday-

's young man named McKay was driving 'a wagsron from Te Kuiti to Piopio when he fell from the top of the load. A wheel passed over his legs, one being broken. The waggdn went over a bank and a wheel was broken.

DEATH OF A CHILD.

Auckland, Thursday

Arthur Crozier, an eight-year-old boy, died at the railway construction works at Maungaturoto. At the inquest a verdict of death due to influenza from tonsilitis was returned. Strong allegations Were made on the absence of sanitary arrangements and accommodation for children on the works. ''

CHAUFFEUR'S SUDDEN DEATH.

Palmersfcori North,. Thursday

A sudden death occurred early this morning. F. Lecaldano. chauffeur, had motored a party to Woodville races yesterday and returned in excellent spirits. At 2 o'clock this morning he started suddenly in his sleep and expired. He was only' 30 years of age -and leaver a wife and six ehillren.