FATAL ACCIDENTS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2448, 20 March 1888, Page 2

FATAL ACCIDENTS.

[by TELEGRArn— PRESS ASSOCIATION".] Christchuuch, Monday. Yesterday evening, Michael Murphy, aged 9, son of a labourer, was accidentally killed while playing underneath the Montreal-street Bridge. A companion named Pearson pushed him against an abuttment of the bridge, on which he struck his head, and died in five minutes. Bulls, Monday. A sad accident occurred at the Sandon races on Saturday. In the Flying Race 19 horses started, and at a nasty dip in the course, one stumble! and fell, and brought four others down. Three of the jockeys were badly bruised and seriously shaken, but escaped comparatively unhurt. Of the others, a boy named Costello, 16 years of age, was unconscious for two hours, being hurt internally, and Hall, 14 years of age, was unconscious for an hour ; he had his left arm broken. Another boy named MoKcnzie, 14 years of age, sustained concussion of the brain, and died twelve hours after. None of the horses were injured. Wellington, Monday. . The Minister for Mines has received a telegram from Clyde stating that James Strethain, aged 29, was suffocated in a eoal mine off Blackmans, belonging to Mr Buckley, at 9 o'clock yesterday morning. The young man descended the shaft to ascertain the depth of water and after being below some minutes was being pulled up by his brother when be feil out of the bucket. He made a second attempt to regain tho surface but falling to the bottom again he was suffocated by the gas. An inquest is to be held.