DEATHS.
RAMSAY. — On November 1st., at Glen-iti, James David, beloved eldest eon of D. and E. Ramsay, in his eighth year. (Accidently drowned.) -Timaru Herald, 2/11/1922.
DROWNED IN A DAM
INQUEST REGARDING GLEN-ITI FATALITY.
The inquest concerning the death by drowning of James David Ramsay, son of Mr and Mrs David Ramsay of Glen-iti, was held at the residence of the parents yesterday afternoon before, the District Coroner, Mr E. D. Mosley S.M.. Senior Sergeant Fahey conducted the proceedings on behalf of the police.
Mrs .Ramsay said that James David Ramsay, the deceased was her son. He was seven years and ten months old, and was a pupil at Glen-iti school. On Wednesday he was at school and returned home for his dinner at noon, going back to school afterwards. He came back from school at ten minutes to three and was then alone. He changed his clothes, had afternoon tea, and left for his uncle’s home which was in close proximity at 3.10 p.m. She did not see any one go away with her son and did not see him again until about 5 p.m. when he was brought back dead.
David Hammy, painter, Glen-iti, said he was the father of the deceased boy, and he gave evidence of identification.
Thos. Wm. Curr, a boy aged 7 years of age, said he attended the Glen-iti school. On Wednesday afternoon he met James Ramsay after school just outside his gate. He went with deceased to the latter’s uncle's place which was close by. After leaving there they went down the lane, bird-nesting and through a fence and across a paddock towards tile dam. Witness and deceased then looked through a pipe and saw a file which he threw into the dam. Deceased then tried to find the file by feeling with a long stick. When he was near the place where the file was thrown he lost his balance and fell in. Witness sang out — “Come out Jim at once,” but the deceased did not speak. Deceased went down under the water and came up again, and was moving his arms and legs. After that he went down again and witness saw him a little later but he went straight down after that and witness did not see him again, but only saw some bubbles. Witness then ran and told George Ramsay, the boy’s uncle, what had happened.
George Ramsay, dairy farmer, Glen-iti, said that on Wednesday afternoon the previous witness informed him that his nephew, James David Ramsay, had fallen into the dam. Witness immediately went to the dam and took a fork with him. He took the depth of the water which was about 3ft 6in. He could find no trace of his nephew in the dam and set out to look for him elsewhere. Finding that he had left his home to come to his (witness’s) place he returned to the dam after going to deceased’s grandfather’s place. Mrs Ramsay, the boy’s mother, and his (witness’s) father also went with him to the dam. On going along the bank witness saw foot marks, and another neighbour, Mr Smith, came on the scene and they then dragged the dam with a fork. Mr R. J. McKeown was also present during the dragging. The first time they dragged they found the body. The body was examined on being taken from the dam but life was extinct. It was at least 45 minutes from the time witness was told that the boy had fallen into the water till his body was procured. The body of the deceased was then taken, to his father’s house.
R. J. McKeown said that on Wednesday afternoon he heard that the deceased had fallen into the dam when he was at the home of deceased’s father. He assisted in dragging for the body of deceased and bringing it to the bank. There was no sign of life when the body was brought to the surface.
The Coroner returned a verdict that deceased met his death by being accidentally drowned in a dam on the property of George Ramsay. Mr Mosley feelingly expressed his sorrow with Mr and Mrs Ramsav in the sad disaster which had overtaken them. The boy appeared to have been a fine lad and one could only regret that he had been cut off in his early youth. -Timaru Herald, 3/11/1922.
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