In our obituary column to-day appears a notification of the death, of Mr Thomas McWhirter. jun., son of Mr Thomas McWhirter, long and favorably known in this district. The deceased was also well known in North Otago, and news of his death under painful circumstances will be received with regret. The Cromwell Argus reports that the deceased, who lived on the Tarras Station, of which his father is manager, had the misfortune to break his wrist, about a fortnight ago. He came to Cromwell and had the injury attended to, after which he went home, apparently sound and well last week, being troubled with pains in the head and having a swelling in the face, came down to Cromwell again. At midday on Saturday he visited Dr Macknight, who redressed his arm and attended to the swelling of his face, but neither the doctor nor his patient, thought that anything else was the matter. About nightfall the deceased, who was staying at the Commercial Hotel, and had gone to bed, being attended by his mother, became delirious. He became worse, and early on Sunday Drs. Macknight and Morris were called in, and did all they could, but medical skill proved in vain, and at 6.30 deceased passed away, before his father and brother, who had been summoned by telephone, could arrive. The cause of the death was blood poisoning, and the only explanation feasible is that advanced by the deceased, who said that he thought he had been, stung on his face by an insect. This is probably the real cause of the blood poisoning, the insect having previously been feeding on some deleterious matter, and inoculating deceased with the poison. Great sympathy is felt on all sides for the bereaved family. The deceased was a young man universally esteemed and respected his many sterling qualities, and the upright manliness of his character. -Ooamaru Mail,28/12/1901.
Obituary. — A couple of deaths in the district created a feeling of pained surprise recently. At Cardrona, Mary Eileen Miller, the eldest daughter of the late Mr Henry Miller, and step-daughter of Mr John Loft, both very old residents, was lately carried away, ulceration of the stomach being the ailment, at the early age of 24 years. When she was barely out of her teens she looked so strong and fresh that one would have thought that a good old age was before her. Mr Thomas McWhirter jun., Tarras, eldest son of the station manager, was loading fencing wire on to a dray, and gave his arm a twist and broke it. He went to Cromwell Hospital at once, but blood-poisoning set in, and he died on Sunday night last. When we read of pathetic cases such as these, of people being taken off in the first bloom of youth, we are apt to think that our advanced nineteenth century civilisation and medical science are not yet perfect, but leave room for plenty of advancement. -Otago Witness, 1/1/1902.
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