Ernest William Munro, 1898-10/10/1912

I doubt that there are many people in New Zealand who do not know the name Bert Munro.  In the Invercargill Cemetery there are signposts for those who want to find his grave.  For anyone who does not know who Bert was, Google is your friend.

It was no great surprise to find Bert in the Cemetery when I was there with my camera a couple of months ago.  He and his story are so well known that I would be wasting my time tying to tell it.  But, at the top of the family gravestone, is an interesting detail with another name attached, that of his older brother, Ernest.

DEATH.

MUNRO. —At South Invercargill, on Thursday, October 10. 1912 (the result of an accident), Ernest William, clearly beloved son of William and Lily Munro; aged 14 years and 6 months. The funeral will leave his parents' residence, Tramway Road, South Invercargill at 12.30 p.m. on Monday, the 14th inst., for the Eastern Cemetery. Friends please accept this (the only) intimation.

KINGSLAND & FERGUSON, Undertakers.  -Southland Times, 12/10/1912.

“A SAD AFFAIR."

SOUTH INVERCARGILL FATALITY. 

THE CORONER’S INQUEST

The sad story of the accidental death of the lad Ernest William Munro, who was struck down by a falling tree when attempting to jump clear of it at South Invercargill last Thursday evening, was unfolded at the inquest held before the District Coroner, Mr G. Cruickshank, in the Courthouse on Saturday morning. Sergeant Simpson conducted the enquiry. William Munro, father of the deceased, said that he was a farmer residing at South Invercargill. The deceased was fourteen and a half years of age, and witness last saw him alive about 6 p.m. on the evening of the 10th inst. About 6.30 he heard of the accident and went to the scene at Mr Skiffington’s where he found his son lying dead a few yards from the tree. The boy was extra strong, was healthy, and possessed all his faculties. It was with witness's consent that the deceased went to Skifiington’s. He had lost a boat and wanted to find out about it. He was quite satisfied that his son was killed by being struck by the tree. 

William Clark, carpenter’s assistant, deposed that he knew the deceased and had met him at Skiffington’s on the night of his death. Green, who had been cutting the trees down, told them not to interfere with the tree by which deceased was killed. There were two trees which had been almost cut through, and their branches were interlaced with those of a third tree. James Shepherd and witness climbed up the third tree and started loosening the branches of the other two. The deceased, who had been standing looking on, climbed half way up one of the loose trees. The tree that he was on began to fall and witness and Shepherd called out to him to jump. He was about thirteen feet from the ground, and he jumped at once, but was struck by the second tree. It must have struck him while he was still in the air because the deceased was caught between the branches and trunk. Deceased called out ‘‘Come quick, I’m dying.” When they got down they could hardly see the deceased and they had to get some one to cut away the branches before they could reach him. The tree was lying across him and his body was doubled up. When they got to him he was dead. The Shepherd boys and witness went to the trees nearly every night, but it was the first time the deceased had been there. Although Green had told them not to touch the tree James Shepherd said “we'll have the tree down before we go home.” In the first place they, climbed up one of the cut trees and when it began to go they swung over on to one of the sound trees.

Evidence corroborating that of the previous witness was given by a lad of 14 years of age named James Shepherd. 

Joseph Green, a farmer residing at Seaward Bush, said that he had a contract to cut the macrocarpa trees on Skiffington’s place. They constituted a shelter hedge and were branched nearly to the ground. When he finished up on the night of the accident he left two trees hanging up. One of these was cut right through, and the other was almost grubbed through. He had worked late trying to get them down, but was unable to do so. Failing all other means he tried to pull them down with the assistance of some of the boys. This, too, failed. Witness then warned Shepherd not to go near the trees. There would not be the slightest danger in his opinion in leaving the trees as he had left them, had they not been interfered with. 

Evidence was also given by James Phillips, who stated that he was called to the scene of the accident. He went over at once and took an axe. An effort to lift the tree off the deceased being fruitless, the witness set to work to cut the branches away. Eventually he had to cut through the trunk about six inches from the boy’s head. The trunk was about 12 inches thick — and it took about five minutes to get him out. 

"This seems to be a very sad affair,” said the Coroner. “I do not think Green was to blame as he did his best to get the trees down and they seemed safe enough. He told the lads not to go near the trees, but after all they are very young, and boys will be boys. The whole thing seems to have arisen from some boyish freak, and I cannot see that any one was to blame. I will record a verdict that deceased was accidentally killed by being struck by a falling tree.”  -Southland Times, 14/10/1912.

Invercargill Cemetery.