Agnes Isabel West (Daisy) Wilson, (1864-13/11/1922). "saving her sister"

FALL FROM RAILWAY BRIDGE

DROP OF TWENTY FEET. ELDERLY LADY’S DEATH. 

Two elderly ladies, Miss Daisy Wilson, of Evansdale, and Mrs Edith Bunce, of Perth avenue, Dunedin, fell from a railway bridge near Evansdale yesterday morning, and incurred injuries which necessitated the removal of both, to the Dunedin Hospital, where Miss Wilson died last evening. It appears that Mr Bunce and his wife reached Evansdale by train at about 10 o’clock, and that he there left his wife, who set out to visit her sister, Miss Wilson. He thinks that Miss Wilson and his wife then left to walk to Warrington to attend a service in the Anglican church there. Later he heard that they had met with an accident and were both in Dunedin Hospital. 

From what can be ascertained, it seems that the two ladies were walking over the bridge when an engine returning to town from Seacliff came in view. They were seen by the driver, who at once applied the emergency brakes and reversed his engine. When it had stopped it was about the place where he saw the ladies, who were then on the road below, a drop of about 20ft from the bridge. Neither the driver nor the fireman thinks the engine struck them, but is of the opinion that they either jumped or in their excitement fell from the bridge. As the sleepers of the bridge are too close together for the ladies to have fallen between them, it is evident that they went over the side. Dr Borrie, of Port Chalmers, was called, and reached the scene of the accident at 11.45. Both the ladies were badly injured, and were brought to town by ambulance and admitted to the hospital at 5.15 p.m. Miss Wilson, who was badly shaken and suffering from spinal injuries, did not rally, and died about 6.45 p.m. Mrs Bunce was also badly shaken and bruised, but this morning was reported to be improving. 

The engine which came upon the two ladies went to Seacliff from Dunedin yesterday morning to assist the express. At Seacliff it was detached, but as there was no turntable at Seacliff it had to proceed to Waitati with the tender in front of the engine. There is a slight bend in the line near the bridge, at the approach to which the engine is said to have been travelling about ten miles an hour. George Boland Syder was the driver, and John Connor fireman of the engine. 

The coroner (Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M.) has been informed of the death of Miss Wilson, and will hold an inquest tomorrow morning. It will be opened at the hospital at 9.50, and then adjourned to the court at 10.30. Deceased was about fifty years of age.  -Evening Star, 14/11/1922.

DEATHS

WILSON — On November 13th, at Dunedin (the result of an accident), Agnes Isabel West (Daisy), the beloved sister of Peter A. N. Wilson, of Evansdale; in her 58th year. Deeply mourned.  -Evening Star, 14/11/1922.

Warrington Cemetery.