Friday 13 December 2019

Isabella McKane, 1856-21/7/1887.




TERRIBLE BUGGY ACCIDENT.
[TELEGRAPHED BY OUR CORRESPONDENT] 
Timaru, July 22. — A terrible accident happened this morning at Gore, Otago, by which a girl named Isabella McKane, a servant at Waimea, lost her life. In company with another girl, named Campbell, she was being driven by a man named S. Robertson from a dance at Riversdale to Waimea, and before much ground had been covered the horses bolted. The girl McKane was thrown out, and her clothing catching in the buggy wheels, she was dragged for two miles. Robertson and the girl Campbell were also thrown out, and the latest accounts state that both are still unconscious.  -Taranaki Herald, 22/7/1887.

A HORRIBLE DEATH.
A GIRL DRAGGED TWO MILES. 
Dunedin, last night. By a buggy accident near Clinton, yesterday, a young woman was dragged along the road nearly two miles, head downward. When picked up she was quite dead. The body and head were frightfully shattered, and the remains were almost unrecognisable. No more details are yet to hand. 
Later. Further particulars state that the girl was named Isabella McKane, a servant at Waimea. In company with another, Bella Campbell, she was being driven by a man named Robinson from a dance at Riversdale to Waimea, and before going far the horses bolted. Miss McKane was thrown out, and her clothing catching the buggy wheels she was dragged for nearly two miles. Robinson and Miss Campbell were also thrown out, and are still unconscious.  -Poverty Bay Herald, 27/7/1887.

THE CLOSING SCENE.
On Sunday morning an impressive sermon was preached by the Rev. W. P. Brown in the Riversdale Presbyterian Church, allusion being made to the recent sad fatality. Special hymns were sung on the occasion, and the Dead March played as a voluntary after the service. 
At 3 o'clock in the afternoon an immense concourse of people attended the funeral of the deceased, which started from the Riversdale Hotel. Immediately behind the conveyance which bore the coffin were Mr H. S. Valentine and Mr W. A. Donald, the chief representatives of the N. Z. Agricultural Co. Next came Messrs Wilson Hall, J. D. Anderson, W. Harper, and, W. Sperritt, the bearers. Then followed about 100 of the township residents and settlers in the district. The service at the grave was performed by the Rev W. P. Brown, and the funeral arrangements carried out by Mr John Currie. The coffin, which was of neat construction, bore the following inscription: "Isabella McKane, aged 26 years. Died 23rd July, 1887."  -Mataura Ensign, 26/7/1887.

Official notice is given in the 'Gazette' of the appointment of Mr E. S. Hanson as postmaster at Edendale. In the same publication appear particulars of the estates of deceased persons which have been placed under the charge of the Public Trustee for management, during the month of August, 1887. Under this heading we find the name of Isabella McKane, who died at Riversdale on July 23, and whose personal estate is valued at under L100.   -Mataura Ensign, 16/9/1887.

Riversdale Cemetery, Southland.


2 comments:

  1. Interesting that her coffin was inscribed with 26 years old but her headstone has 31 years old.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Interesting that her coffin had 26 years of age inscribed on it but her headstone has 31 years old.

    ReplyDelete