Thomas Reid, a cattle drover of Ryall Bush, Southland was accidently killed at Gore to-day. He was on board the train for Dunedin standing on the platform. He turned round to say good bye to a friend who came running up and suddenly lest his balance and fell between the carriage which passed over him. He was dreadfully mangled when picked up and died in a few minutes. -West Coast Times, 12/12/1891.
Inquest. — A coroner's inquest was held in Gore yesterday, on the body of Thomas M. Reid, who was killed at the railway station on the previous day. Mr F. S. Canning, J. P., acted as Coroner, and Mr Meredith was foreman of the jury of six. The principal witness was Mr Andrew Graham, station master, who deposed that he first saw the deceased when he attempted to get off the train which was leaving for Dunedin. He observed him slip off the carriage and jump clear, with his face towards the rear of the train. He then observed him stagger back several paces and fall heavily on the edge of the platform. Witness had signalled to the driver of the train to stop as he felt sure Reid could not keep his balance from the way he staggered. The step of the carriage struck him about his shoulder or head, causing him to turn over on his face and roll off the platform. The wheels of the car went over his legs and the deceased was then slewed round with his head towards the position from which witness was looking. The rear wheels of the carriage and the wheels under the van passed over his body. The train was brought to a standstill within ten feet of the body. When witness looked at him Reid appeared to be dead. He considered, from the methodical way in which the deceased placed his foot on the step of the carriage, that he was sober. Witness went to find out from the occupants of the train what motive he had got for leaving the carriage but he had not conversed with any of them. — Dr Low, who examined the deceased immediately after the accident, said that he found he had a wound at the back of his head and another above his eye; his left wrist was completely smashed, both legs were almost crushed off, and his chest was crushed in. He could not detect any signs of drink about the deceased. — Messrs Selby and Tod were also examined. Both had seen the deceased at O'Kane's Hotel, where he had lunch, and knew he was going to Invercargill. He was sober. — Sergeant Fleming produced the watch found on the deceased, which was unscathed, and his ticket for Invercargill. — The jury, without retiring, returned a verdict that the deceased was killed accidentally. — Our correspondent remarks that Mr Reid's being in the express for Dunedin, which goes 10 minutes before the express to Invercargill, led some to think he was bidding good-bye to some one in it. Now it appears as if he had mistaken the trains. -Southland Times, 13/11/1891.
Mr. Thomas Reid, who so sadly lost his life by accident at Gore, was buried at Kaitangata on Saturday afternoon. As Mr Reid was so well known in the district, a very large number of friends attended to follow him to his last resting place. The ceremony at the grave was a most impressive one, and the sincere sympathy expressed by all showed the respect that was felt for the deceased gentlemen throughout the district. -Bruce Herald, 17/11/1891.
The Southland Times states that Mr T. M. Reid, of Ryal Bush, who was killed at Gore on Wednesday, had been along the Waimea line to see some sheep, and returned to Gore just before the Dunedin and Invercargill express trains crossed at that place. He boarded the northgoing train, and just after it started, and before it had got clear of the platform, he was seen to step off the carriage, and the next moment he was jerked off his feet, and to the dismay of the numerous spectators, fell between the platform and the train. The stationmaster witnessed the accident, and promptly signalled the enginedriver to stop, but by that time the wheels of the last carriage and a van had passed over the unfortunate man, inflicting injuries which caused instant death. There is little doubt that Mr Reid was under the impression that be had got on the train to Invercargill, and that he attempted to jump off on discovering his error. The sad occurrence naturally caused a very painful sensation among the passengers on the train and the residents of Gore, and when the news reached Invercargill some of those who had been in company with the deceased on the excursion train to Winton last Monday could scarcely realise that the travelling companion with whom they had so recently been chatting had lost his life. The deceased, who was about 35 years of age, leaves a widow and two children. His mother resides at Kaitangata. -Otago Witness, 19/11/1891.
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