FATAL HORSE ACCIDENT.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2888, 2 May 1888, Page 2

FATAL HORSE ACCIDENT.

Death of Ir Isaac Bairstow.

Perhaps the Scriptural truism "In the midst of lifo we are in death" was never more sorrowfully realised or brought home with more painful force than when shortly after seven o'clock Inst night the news went round Masterton that one of our most respected Wairarapa settlers, Mr Isaac Bairstow, of Olareville, had mef with au accident near the Waingawa bridge, and that his dead body had been found on the road.

The sad news proved only too true, and confirmation of the fact was giveu by the arrival in Masterton of the body of the deceased in a wagon driven by Mr S. Harding at about half past seven o'clock.

: From what we can gather this morn- : ing, it seems that Mr Bairstow rode from Olareville into Masterton yesterday on business, His horse was a quiet one, its only bad tendency being that of "shying." After transacting his business, Mr Bairstow left Masterton on the homeward 'journey at about five o'clock. He would have: gone away earlier, but he- mentioned. at Messrs Caselberg and Co.'s: store, one of his last places of call, that he had beeii waiting for a telegram lie expected, When in Messrs Oaselberg's, lie seemed in his usual spirits and health, and his manner was quite ordinary. Mr Bairstow was then .seen at Kurilpuni by one of our staff at about twenty minutes past'five, and from this time nothing- was seen of him until he was found quite dead on the Tnratahi nuin road, about half a mile past the bridge, and near the junction of Gray's road. The body was discovered by Messrs Georgo Arnold, ■of', Kurupuiii, Peter Brown, and " Monday" a Native, as they were returning from Carterton to Masterton. It was about 6.45 p.m and getting dark, They were informed by a man and woman, who were driving towards Carterton, that there was a man lying on the road a little further on. After proceeding a short distance tliey. came upon the person referred to and were horrified to find that it was Mr Isaac Bairstow, aud that far worse than being merely hurt he was quite dead, a terrible fracture behind the right ear being visible as the immediate cause of the fatality. After a short consultation, word was sent on to Mastertou to advise the police and otherwiso give news of the occurrence, and Mr Harding's waggon passing by was utilised to bring the body to the Club Hotel, where it now lies awaiting the inquest at 3 p.m to-day.

The wound, it may be mentioned, lias

the appearance of either having been caused by a liorse's hoof or by the wheel of a vehicle, Endeavours are being made to ascertain who it was who passed in the cart and from whom Mr Arnold received first intimation of the occurrence, The body was still warm when found. 11 r Bairstow's eldest son and also Mrs Bairstow were in Masterton during the evening, news having been received at Clareville of the accident,, and of their deplorable loss, at eight o'clock. On their way to Masterton Mr Bairstovv junr., found his father's horse walking along the road towards home, about two miles from the scene of the fatality, It hud no marks of injury either on the knees or elsewhere, and both saddle and bridle were in their ordinary condition, except that one of thestirrups was lying across the saddle.

We understand tliat the deceased's hat was found close to the body, this then would dispose of a 'possible theory that he hud been dragged. It is. in accordance with the surrounding circumstances that the horse may have shied violently as he was accustomed to do, the deceased been thrown and stunned, and then subsequently while insensible have been struck by his horse's hoof or by a passing vehicle, for with the gloom of evening unless a close look out was kept, the latter possibility would not at all be out of the question, The late Mr Bairstow was generally recognised as a settler of sterling probifcity and worth, He took a keen interest in politics, and as seoretarv to Mr Buchanan's committee, on more than one occasion materially helped to secure the return of the member for Wairarapa South. He also in other public matters took a proinineut position. He was a member of the Clareville School Committee, a Cemetery Trustee, and was much esteemed in Masonic circles, In fact, he was to have been invested as junior warden of the Carterton ]jodge at the annual installation to be held on Tuesday next. He was a very old resident in the Wellington province, his colonial experience extending over thirty years, the last eighteen of which have been passed at Clareville, where he owned a farm, on which he lived, cultivating it, and adding, during the'season, as an occupation, wool-classing. Mr Bairstow leaves a widow and a family of nine, five sons and four daughters, all ot whom live at homo, but are mostly grown up. It is understood that they are in comfortable circumstances. Yery much sympathy indeed is felt for the family in their sudden and great bereavement, The deceased was widely known, universally esteemed, and the kindness of disposition which had made him many attached friends, was only the public side of a character which in the home circle bad greatly endeared him with his family, and which will for oyer enshrine his memory in affectionate and grateful

remembrance, Since writing the foreqoinE* we learn that ft professional examination of the body lnis been made, The doctor is of opipiontbatMrßairstqw's death was almost instantaneous \yith his touching the ground, and it was then probably •caused by the animal treading on bis head, which is fearfully shattered, There is it seems, no foundation whatever for the supposition that a cartwheel passed ovej.' tjie deceased and the doctor dismisses 'the theory as inconsistent with the naturo of the wound. It seems that it was Mrs Jus. Smith, of Clareville who passed by in the cart. She was driving back from Master ton, when' a horseman overtook her and went qn a-bead, Shortly afterwards she

anw a man lying on the road. She had .only a little boy with her and was naturally timid, She, therefore, did the best thing she could by going on and giving intimation of her discovery ■ _ ' to the approaching persons above.