Many past and present residents of Hokitika will hear with regret of the death, under peculiarly distressing circumstances, of a former townsman, Mr Marcus Ryrie. According to our telegram from Dunedin yesterday, and a private telegram received by Mr Stewart, the local representative of the firm of Messrs Anderson and Mowat, Mr Ryrie was accidentally killed by the upsetting of Cobb's coach on Wednesday afternoon, on its way from Dunedin to Clutha Ferry. The death of a young man like Mr Ryrie under such circumstances would in itself be a painful incident, but there were surrounding circumstances which constitute it an incident of an extremely distressing character. It appears that Mr Ryrie had only on the previous day been married to a young lady who had been a youthful companion of his at home, and who had recently arrived in Otago, in fulfilment of an "engagement" which had been maintained between them for a number of years. It was while proceeding to his home at Balclutha, and while in company with his young bride, that the coach by which they were passengers was capsized, that Mr Ryrie received injuries which resulted in death. Mr Ryrie, and his young wife, so soon a widow, were natives of the County of Caithness, in Scotland. On coming to the Colony, he resided a little time in Invercargill, but joined the throng of Southland's inhabitants who came to the West Coast on the discovery of gold in the neighborhood of Hokitika. For a time at Okarito, and afterwards in Hokitika, he was engaged in business for several years, and for a considerable part of that time as member of the firm of Swanson and Ryrie, of Wharf-street. On the return of his partner to the old country, Mr Ryrie settled at Balclutha, in Otago, and was understood to be in fair way of attaining that prosperity which his integrity and industry deserved. His marked characteristic as a business man was his sterling uprightness and honesty of purpose, and socially he had made many warm friends. The circumstances of his death will be heard with especial regret in his native place, and by many of his fellow townsmen who are scattered over the world. -West Coast Times, 11/11/1870.
INQUEST.
An inquest touching the death of Mr Marcus Ryrie, storekeeper, Balclutha, was held at Taieri Ferry Hotel, on Thursday last by Mr J. Dewe, coroner, Tokomairiro, and a jury. The enquiry was conducted by Mr Sergeant Mallard.
The jury having chosen Mr James Mackay their foreman and having been sworn, retired to view the body. Upon their return the following witnesses were examined: —
Donald Ryrie being sworn, said — I am a storekeeper at Balclutha, in which business I was in partnership with deceased. I have just seen and identify the body as that of my brother, Marcus Ryrie. He was thirty-six years of age, and a native of Caithness-shire, Scotland. I last saw him alive on the morning of Saturday, the 29th of October, when he left Balclutha for Dunedin to be married.
Henry Nettelfauld. — I am coach-driver between Dunedin and Balclutha. I was driver of that coach yesterday. I looked round the coach at the Reliance Motel, Otakia, when I changed horses, and found it was then all right. The Reliance is four miles below the Ferry. I arrived all safe at the latter place, and proceeded on my way towards Tokomairiro. When I had got along about a mile and three-quarters I felt the fore part of the coach drop, and it at once fell over on its side, the side opposite to that at which I sat. I was drawn off my seat and dragged some little distance along the road by the horses, who took the fore part of the coach with them. I was obliged to let them go. I then came back to the coach and found a man lying under the forepart of it. He was lying on his back, his head and chest being covered by the coach, the lower part of the body free. His head was towards the hind wheels and his feet forward. I at once called for assistance, and lifted the coach when deceased was drawn from beneath it. He then breathed and moaned a little. We got water and bathed his head and temples. He was then insensible and never recovered consciousness till he died about five minutes afterwards. I had fourteen other passengers at the time of the accident. They all told me they were unhurt. I remained with the body till. a dray was got to take it to the Ferry Hotel. I have seen the body and identify it. He had not been under the coach half a minute. The whole weight of the front part of it was upon his lungs. I first bathed his face and then assisted the ladies and other passengers out of the coach. I then examined the coach and discovered the cause of the accident. The near fore wheel was lying upon the centre of the road about 15 or 20 yards behind. I then went forward to where the horses were and found the nut had came off the axle, it is what is called a left hand screw, and would tighten by being turned the way the wheel revolved. I examined the thread of the screw upon the axle and found it perfect, except the extreme end which apparently had been slightly damaged by being dragged along the road after the wheel came off. I found the nut on the side of the road, about 100 yards behind where the accident occurred. I produce the nut. It is perfectly sound. I cannot account for the accident. The thread of the screw is an unusually deep one. I never had cause to back the coach on that journey. It could not have been unscrewed with one's fingers, and no one could have tampered with it without my noticing it. The axles are only oiled in Dunedin and Tokomairiro. The passengers were all sober. I was driving quite quietly. I have no idea how the deceased fell of the coach. Where the accident occurred the road is very good and and quite level.
(At this stage the Coroner and Jury made a minute examination of the coach, axles &c)
The Rev William Keall, Wesleyan minister, Lawrence said, I was a passenger by the coach from town yesterday. The deceased and his bride were taken up at Otakia. I then came outside, to make room inside for Mrs Ryrie. and lay on the roof of the coach When about a mile and three quarters past the Ferry Hotel I felt a slight oscillation, the coach inclining to the near side. I then all at once found myself on the road. I had come down gently with the coach, landing on my feet. I noticed the horses were away with the fore part of the coach. There was no noise, further than some one saying "There's a man under," and the driver at once said "Let us lift the coach." At the first trial we did not succeed but did so at the second lift, and the man was released. I noticed him and he seemed to be dying. He was insensible. There were others around him and I went to assist the ladies out of the coach. I took his bride away. About two minutes afterwards I was told he was dead. He lived about five minutes after the accident. I told his bride of the death and at her request took her back to see the body. I observed the fore wheel lying some 15 or 20 yards behind where the accident occurred. There were no other passengers hurt and I then walked away towards Tokomairiro as I had been asked to send telegrams of the accident. One of the horses was lying on the road with its back broke. There was no dragging of the coach after the accident. The deceased lay angle-ways under the coach rather nearer across than along the road, his feet being forward. The coach covered the upper part of his body to the chest. At the time of the accident the coach was driven steadily at the usual pace. The driver was perfectly sober, and no carelessness is attributable to him. I believe he acted the best that could be done under the circumstances. I have seen the nut this morning. If it had not been fully screwed on the tendency would be to work off. It might loosen and come off between Otakia and where the accident occurred. There is a portion of that road very rough with metal.
F. P. Mansfield said, I am coach proprietor, Dunedin. When the coach in question arrived in Dunedin on Tuesday night, I saw my coach manager examine it and said it was in good order and condition. On Wednesday morning the coach was oiled by my head groom in my presence, at the stables. I saw him oil all the axles and screw them up with a span. He oils all my coaches in Dunedin. I went round the coach twice and examined it that morning. I am in the habit of getting up at 5 o'clock every morning to see they are all right. I have examined the coach since the accident, and found it perfect. I have been coach proprietor for 19 years, and this is the third accident of the kind that has occurred in my experience. I can form no conception of how the nut came off. I have fiteen coaches running daily. Mr Nettelfauld has been general road manager for me. I consider him one of the very best men I have, and this is the reason I selected him for the south road instead of keeping him as manager. He is a careful and experienced driver. The south road is at some places very narrow. I have repeatedly called the attention of the Government to it but never got replies to my letters. I gave up applying and simply put my best men upon the road.
This concluded the evidence. The jury returned a verdict of accidental death adding a rider that in their opinion no blame was attributable to any one. -Bruce Herald, 16/11/1870.
MARRIAGE.
HAMILTON — RYRIE. On the 20th September, by the Rev. John Clark, of Williamstown, at St. Andrew's Church, Carlton, the Rev. Robert Hamilton, M.A., Learmouth, Victoria, to Helen, relict of the late Marcus Ryrie, Balclutha, Otago. -Clutha Leader, 5/10/1883.
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