TAPANUI.
[FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.]
A sad accident occurred at Tapanui on last Friday afternoon whereby a young man named Adam Eskdale lost his life. A party of four men were engaged in getting gravel from a pit on the roadside near Mr R. Elliott's farm to spread on the road. The deceased had excavated a good distance under the surface, when, without the slightest warning, a great mass of gravel and earth fell upon him to such an extent that, except his head, he was entirely covered. His companions lost no time in extricating the unfortunate sufferer, and in conveying him to his home, which was not far distant. In the meantime a messenger went for Dr Jones, who attended immediately, but could do nothing for Eskdale. The most serious injuries, so far as could be ascertained from an outside examination, were sustained by the lower parts of the body, which were crushed and torn almost out of shape. The sufferer was conscious, but endured intense agony, and lived for an hour and a-half after the accident. In view of the circumstances, an inquest was deemed unnecessary, and deceased was buried in Tapanui Cemetery on Sunday afternoon. The cortege was the largest seen in Tapanui for many years, settlers and inhabitants for miles round coming to testify to the respect in which deceased and his family were held. Rev. Mr Scorgie conducted the services at the grave, and gave a short but impressive address to the mourners, calling special attention to the suddenness of the death, and the neccesity of our being prepared for the dread summons at any time. Strange to say, two similar accidents were avoided lately only through the vigilance of some lookers-on, who saw the gravel giving way, and called to the man in the pit, which is of no great depth, who thereby escaped. -Clutha Leader, 28/1/1887.
Wedding. — I have to chronicle the marriage of Miss Annie, daughter of Mr George Arnott, one of the earliest settled farmers of this district, to Mr William Eskdale, farmer, of Tapanui, which took place in Dunedin about the beginning of the month. The best wishes of the community follow the happy couple. -Otago Witness, 13/6/1899.
The body of Mr William Eskdale, who, with his newly-married wife, was drowned in attempting to cross the Pomahaka River at Maxwell's Ford on Sunday, was recovered yesterday. Search parties were out yesterday searching for the body of Mrs Eskdale, but so far as could be ascertained last evening without being successful. -Otago Daily Times, 3/1/1900.
SAD DROWNING ACCIDENT IN THE POMAHAKA.
A very sad drowning accident occurred on Sunday last, when Mr and Mrs William Eskdale, of Inglebank, Tapanui Flat, lost their lives when crossing the Pomahaka river at what is known as the Burning Plains ford. Mr and Mrs Eskdale left their home on Sunday morning with the intention of driving to Rankleburn to visit Mrs Eskdale's parents there. Two men saw the two deceased enter the ford, when the horse got into deep water. The driver then tried to go back, but the horse had no strength left, was carried away by the current, and was shortly drowned. It appears the vehicle was never wholly under water, and it is not clear why the couple left it. At all events Mrs Eskdale was only seen in the water for a few minutes when she disappeared. Mr Eskdale was very close to the shore, and although he could not swim he managed to keep afloat for a time, when he was seen to suddenly fall back and was not again seen alive. His botly was found close to where he was last seen alive, but that of Mrs Eskdale has not, so far as we have heard, been recovered. The river runs with a very rapid current at the ford, which is a dangerous one to a stranger to cross. Mrs Eskdale's father, Mr Geo. Arnot, is wellknown in this district. -Clutha Leader, 5/1/1900.
TAPANUI.
January 9 — The weather during the holiday season was not verr favourable. During Christmas holidays rain showers prevented any outdoor amusements. New Year's Day, however, was fine, and the town was deserted, most of the residents finding their way to the Kelso games. Trotting races at Heriot and cycling sports at Tapanui on Boxing Day attracted the public, and both gatherings passed off successfully. At Kelso, on New Year's Day, the attendance was above the average, and the sports, as a whole, of an interesting character. The Tapanui Flat picnic, annually held on New Year's Day, would have been a large gathering, but news of the drowning accident at Rankleburn, in which Mr and Mrs William Eskdale lost their lives, and on whose farm the picnic was to take place, arrived just as the picnickers began to muster, and of course all thoughts of a gathering were given up, and the visitors dispersed.
Deaths. — This has been one of the most eventful holiday seasons in the history of the district for deaths, and funerals have been very frequent. The fatal gun accident at Crooksion was followed by the death of several old and respected residents; and then, on top of all, came the drowning accident at Rankleburn, the tidings of which stirred the sympathy of the community to the utmost extent. The Eskdale family (of whom the aged mother is in a very frail condition) are generally respected, and William, who lost his life at Rankleburn, was no stranger to the reverses of life. When settled on the Rankleburn, sheep-farming, he lost a young wife after a very short spell of married life, and after recovering from this blow he removed to Tapanui and joined his brother James on the farm known as Inglebank, adjacent to the family homestead. (The owner of Inglebank lost his life in the Pornahaka River.) Mr Eskdale again married, and had been settled in his new home some 10 months. The Sunday preceding New Year's Day he left Tapanui with his wife to drive to the farm of the latter's parents at Rankleburn, arriving safely at the river, within a few miles of their destination. The ford is not a very safe one in flood time, and from the particulars that can be gathered, the horse gave in when in the current, and was carried into deep water, buggy and horse sinking suddenly, and leaving the occupants struggling. Mrs Eskdale soon went out of sight, and her husband tried to reach the bank, but failed. Some men on the bank, unable to swim, attempted to save the drowning man with a flax rope, but it fell short. The body was recovered in over 20ft of water. After an inquest at Clinton, the remains were brought to Tapanui and buried in the cemetery here. Deceased was a member of the Oddfellows' Lodge, and the brethren turned out in large force at the funeral, the concourse following to the grave being a very lengthy one. Every effort has been made to recover the body of Mrs Eskdale, but, up to time of writing, without success. The members of the bereaved families have the sympathy of the entire community, and the accident has had a depressing effect since its occurrence. Witness, 11/1/1900.
Funeral. — The remains of the late Mrs William Eskdale were buried in the Tapanui Cemetery on Thursday last, having been recovered fiom the Pomahaka on the previous Monday. The funeral was a large one to mark the close of this sad and regrettable accident. Witness, 18/1/1900.
No comments:
Post a Comment