A fatal accident occurred yesterday at Broad Bay, near Portobello. A calf belonging to Mr Gynn, a settler there, had tumbledi into a long unused well, about twenty feet deep, and a number of the neighbours assembled to help to rescue the animal. Amongst them was a fine young man, named William Styles, elder son of Mr Styles, one of the earliest settlers of the Province. The young man was born at or near Portobello, and was held in very high esteem for his many good qualities. He was a ready helper in time of trouble, as was proved to his cost yesterday. With a view to, if possible, save the life of the calf, young Styles volunteered to descend the well, and make a rope fast to the animal. A sort of windlass had been rigged, and by this he was lowered down, but had not descended far from the surface when it became apparent to those on the surface that something was the matter with him. They at once commenced to pull him up again, but just as he was almost within reach of the hands stretched out to grasp him, he let go his hold of the rope and fell to the bottom. Then it was ascertained that the well was nearly full of foul air. Efforts were made to recover the body, and after a couple of hours' work it was caught with a grappling iron and hauled to the surface — life of course being quite extinct. Styles made no sign nor uttered a cry after he entered the well, and in all probability was dead before he reached the bottom, the action of carbonic acid gas being exceedingly rapid. The sad event cast a deep gloom ever the Portobello and Broad Bay communities. Information of what had occurred was communicated to the Port Chalmers Police in the afternoon, we understand that an inquest upon the body will be held to-day. -Otago Daily Times, 16/4/1875.
No comments:
Post a Comment