ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 November 1916, Page 4

ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.

DROWNED WHILST BOATING. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Ye.iterday. A boating fatality .occurred at Evans' Bay tyosterday, when Clarence Dawson, aged 19, was drowned. Dawson, was out. sailing a 14-foot boat and when trying to adjust the mainsail the halyard's broke and Dawson fell overboard and Was drowned. His body has been recovered. , It is believed he was an engine-cleaner employed by the Railway Department. IHE PALMERSTON MOTOR ACCIDENT. A Manaw&tu Times reporter, who visited the scene of the accident whereby Mr. Wm. Forbes, late of New Plymouth, was killed and the Misses O'Sullivan seriously injured, shortly after it occurred, gleaned the following facts concerning the fatality. At about 0.30 o'clock on Friday evening a Mr. Goodson's residence in Fitzroy Street was visited by a young woman in a high state of nervous excitement. She informed Mr. Goodson that there had been an accident further down the road, a car having run 'bi;er the clifT into the river. The police were immediately communicated with, and Sub-Inspector Mareack, Sergeant Henry, and Constable Andrews, together with Dr. Bett, proceeded to the scene: of the unfortunate affair". There it was found that the driver of the car was pinned underneath, dead, and the two young women were in an unconscious condition.

The accident lias some rather tragic features. Evidently Mr. Forbes, who belongs to Wellington, was a stranger to the locality, or else he would hava known that the river was in the vicinity. The road to the river was barred by a cattle gate abo.ut thirty feet from'the river bank. • Unfortunately this gate was open, -and the car ran through at full pace.

The action of one of th'e sisters was particularly heroic. Though suffering from shock and in a serious condition as tho rc-ult of the accident, Miss Sullivan bravely scaled the river bank, which is almost perpendicular, and down which tile police had to be lowered by a rope, and went for assistance. Then 'she went back to render "help to her sister. It is assumed that in doing this she fell over the bank and fractured her wrist, but this notwithstanding she extricated her sister, who was unconscious, from a very serious position. When Dr. Eett arrived ho- found that Forbes was lifeless, his skull having been shattered. Vhe doctov attended to both the young women and took them to < the hospital, where they now are. The body of tha late Mr. Forbes was removed to the morgue.' The deceased was a man of singularly handsome physique, well-known in insurance circles all over the North Island, and particularly in Wellington and Palmerston North. He was tnirty-nino years of age.