Fatal Football Accident.
Dunedin, July 3. The "Star's" correspondent at Gore says there was a shocking football accident there on Saturday, John Masson, 23 years, unmarried, was playing in a scratch game and collided with another player. He went home complaining of being unwell, and went to bed. He gradually sank, dying at three this morning. He never regained consciousness since Saturday night. Deceased was the son of Mr Masson, of the well known engineering firm of Masson, Scott and Berham, Engineers, London, and was only three months in the colony. -Ashburton Guardian, 3/7/1893.
FATAL COLLISION ON THE FOOTBALL FIELD.
[Special to the Star.]
GORE, July 3. A shocking accident occurred at Mataura on Saturday afternoon to John Masson, twenty-three years of age and unmarried. He was playing a scratch game of football, and collided with another player. He afterwards went home, complained of feeling unwell, went to bed, and shortly afterwards gradually became unconscious. Dr Donaldson (of Gore) attended, but from the first held out no hope of Masson’s recovery. The unfortunate young man died at three o’clock this morning, never having recovered consciousness. He was only about three months out from Home, was an engineer, and was connected with the well-known London engineering firm of Masson, Scott, and Bertram, in which Ins father is a partner. Deceased came to Mataura to superintend the fitting up of the new machinery at the paper mills. He was a most unassuming, gentlemanly young fellow, was a cousin of Mr David Greig, first assistant at the Gore school, and a nephew of the Rev. A. Greig, of Portobello. He is believed to have had no nearer relatives in the colony. The Mataura district has been thrown into a state of gloom by the sad occurrence. -Evening Star, 3/7/1893.
A Deplorable Occurrence.
FATAL FOOTBALL ACCIDENT AT MATAURA
VERDICT OF "ACCIDENTAL DEATH,"
THE RUGBY GAME CONDEMNED.
The football match at Mataura on Saturday between the employes of the Paper Mills and Freezing Works has had a very sad sequel. During the progress of the game, which appears to have been a friendly one, though a trifle rough, more particularly in the forward division, owing to a number of the players being ignorant of the rules, Mr John Masson, of London, who was playing three-quarter-back on the mill side, sustained a nasty fall. One witness at the inquest said he walked about afterwards with his hands to his head a few minute, but he was able to continue playing to the end and went home though he complained of his head paining him. On going to his home (he was residing with Mr Wyllie, manager of the mill) he again complained of his head and was unable to eat, soon lapsing into an unconscious state. Dr Donaldson, of Gore, was sent for, but the case was pronounced hopeless from the first. On Sunday Dr Stockwell, of Wyndham, was also called in, but though the treatment adopted in the most severe cases of concussion of the brain was resorted to, the poor fellow never regained consciousness, and died at 3 o'clock yesterday morning. The deceased gentleman was a son of Mr Masson, of the firm, Masson, Scott and Co., who have extensive paper machinery works at Battersea, London. He came out to the colony about three months ago to superintend the erection of the machinery purchased by Mr Culling from his firm for the new works at Mataura. He proved himself a thoroughly capable engineer, and the work has progressed satisfactorily under his supervision. Socially he was a great favorite, and his sudden and deplorable end greatly shocked the many friends he has made at Mataura. Mr Culling has cabled the news to the relations at Home. Mr Masson's only relatives in the colony were an uncle, the Rev. Mr Greig, of Sandymount (who was present at the inquest yesterday) and family, one of whom, Mr David Greig, teacher at the Gore school, was an intimate friend of the deceased; and an aunt, Mrs Scott, of Mornington. It was considered advisable to hold
AN INQUEST,
which took place yesterday afternoon at Humphries' Hotel, before MR. B Hawkins, coroner, and the following jury: — Messrs H. Cameron (foreman), P, Clark, T. MacGibbon, J. Lowden, Jas. Cotton, and J. Brough. After the customary formalities, Thos. Culling stated that he became acquainted with. deceased in July of last year, and engaged him to come to Mataura and fit up the machinery for the new works. Deceased (who was about twenty-three years of age) arrived about three months ago and had been superintending the work since. On Saturday he said he intended playing in the match and witness advised him against so doing, telling him he would be very foolish to play. Witness did not like the game, and did not think deceased strong enough for it, and he had also mentioned that his mother had requested him not to play. Saw deceased about 1 o'clock in the evening, when he was unconscious and sent for Dr Donaldson.
Arthur Wylie, paper-maker, deposed: I have known deceased since Good Friday last. He returned from a football match about six o'clock on Saturday. He went to his bedroom, and I thought he was rather long in changing his football things and coming to tea. I enquired if he was coming, and he said, "All right, presently," in a sort of semi-conscious way, as a spent man would do. I left him a couple of minutes, and then went back again and asked him what was the matter with him. He said he had got a knock on the head, and it was painful. He said he had come into collision in the football field — I do not remember the exact words, but that was the effect of them. I took him a cup of tea, but he did not drink it, and I asked him if he would not undress and go to bed. He was unable to undress, and was lying on the bed. I took off his boots and helped him into bed. I spoke, and he simply muttered something which could not be understood. He ground his teeth: I asked him why, and he said "To sharpen them." He seemed insensible. I thought the case serious and consulted Mr Culling, and a medical man was sent for. I should not consider deceased a powerful man physically. He never regained consciousness. He had no illness while at Mataura.
To the Jury: I would not like to say whether I considered him fit to play football. I have seen such as he play and be none the worse for it. He appeared in good health.
Henry Donaldson, medical practitioner, of Gore, deposed: I was called to Mataura on Saturday night to see deceased. I found him unconscious and suffering from concussion of the brain. There were no external marks of violence. I left instructions for his treatment, and visited him again on Sunday in conjunction with Dr Stockwell, of Wyndham. There was no remission of the symptoms: the unconsciousness deepened, and he died at three o'clock c this morning. The cause of death was concussion of the brain, which might be caused by a fall or a blow. Dr Stockwell and myself did all that could possibly be done, but it was of no avail. A blow of sufficient intensity on any part of the head would cause concussion of the brain. A fall on the feet might do so. Sometimes no external mark was visible. We took the hair off and examined the head and there was no mark, There was no mark on the body except a few old marks on the shins — nothing recent. I cannot say how concussion was caused — it might have been by a smooth or flat substance or a mark would have been left.
To the Jury: I could not see any mark on the back, I do not think the spine was injured, or he would not have been able to walk, There was no injury to the heart, lungs, or stomach. I should think, considering the intensity of the symptoms and the absence of external marks, that he was not particularly robust. It is not an uncommon occurrence for a man to play a game out after being injured: it occurs in the worst form of cases. Paralysis sometimes results. I think if there had been any very rough usage there would have been bruises to show for it.
George Thomas Stockwell, medical practitioner, Wyndham, deposed: I was called in consultation with Dr Donaldson on Sunday, and found Mr Masson comatose, the cause being effusion of blood within the brain, resulting in compression of the brain, and affecting the whole system. There was an inability to swallow, no motor power of the extremities, no reflex action of the eyes: in fact the man was to all intents and purposes dead. In consultation with Dr Donaldson we adopted the most severe remedies for cases of the kind, and I am very certain that the cause of death was concussion and subsequent effusion of blood on the brain, causing pressure on the vital centres. The hair was cut on the side of the scalp and the skull carefully examined, but no external mark of violence was revealed. Dr Donaldson's treatment could not have been improved upon.
To the Coroner: I consider it a case of contre-coup. To put it vulgarly, a smack on one side of the head and a reflex action which caused a rupture of a vessel in the brain. Dr Donaldson and I agreed that a post mortem examination was unnecessary. It would need a very violent blow to cause concussion, and I believe that this football game is the most blackguard game going. The blow would not necessarily leave an external mark.
Walter McLeod, an employe at the Paper Mill and captain of their team, deposed to the play being rougher than usual owing to the lack of knowledge of the game, by some of the players — about half his team knew the game — but deceased was not worse treated than anyone else. He mentioned to witness towards the end of the game that he had got a knock on the head but did not say how he came by it.
To the jury: Had warned one player for throwing a boy rather heavily. There was no intentionally rough or dangerous play. Deceased did not complain of being roughly treated and seemed all right at half-time. The game was "Rugby" and Mr Masson seemed to know the play.
John Thomas Jarvis, laborer and line umpire in the match, gave similar evidence as to the play: he had seen rougher by regular teams. When 10 or 15 minutes had gone in the second spell witness noticed deceased take the ball, which came out at the side of the scrum, and run across the field, where he was met by another player (Arnett) who collared him. Both fell heavily. They got up and Masson put both his hands to his head and walked about for a few minutes as if he had lost his senses. He soon appeared all right again, however, and continued playing. The ground was "turfy." Deceased got several other falls, but no heavy ones.
To the Jury: Masson fell underneath. His head struck the ground and rebounded. He fell on his left side, but got up immediately.
John Carroll, a Paper Mill employe, gave corroborative evidence. The only unusually rough play, was in the scrums. Mr Masson complained of his head, not of the play being rough.
Chas. Henry Arnett, employe of the (unreadable) and captain of their team, deposed to collaring deceased, who was running with the ball, about 10 minutes or a quarter of an hour after the second spell started. Could not say who was uppermost when they fell. As soon as they were down they were up again and resumed play. About five minutes after the fall deceased remarked that witness had a hard head. In the first spell he had been collared by deceased, on each occasion witness only fell. Did not notice deceased holding his hands to his head.
To the Jury: I did not remember our heads coming in contact, but thought I had the worst of the fall. We fell together. He was running slowly and I waited for him. I noticed no difference in his play after. The game lasted for about 20 minutes after. The game was played in a very friendly spirit, and any rough play was amongst the forwards.
George Cameron, who was referee at the match, gave corroborative evidence of the game being played in a friendly spirit and without animosity. He did not notice any heavy fall or that Mr Masson seemed ill at any stage.
This was all the evidence led, and the Coroner said there was a widely expressed opinion that the Rugby game as played was excessively dangerous, and accidents frequently occurred, though, fortunately it seldom happened there was a fatal result as there had been in this case. The game did not appear to have been particularly violent though there had been more roughness than usual in the game owing to some of the players not knowing the game. This did not apply to other divisions, however, and deceased was not near the rough play. It appeared that it was impossible to avoid a certain amount of roughness or danger. But danger was not absent from cricket or boating: in fact all such pursuits had their concomitant dangers, and if they were to give up games on account of danger there would be an end to sports. Whatever the dangerous points, which were apparently known to the associations and clubs could not, by some common understanding be reduced, was the question for these bodies' consideration. It was only his place to point out that this lamentable fatal occurrence had been brought about in lawful sport carried out in a friendly mind. Who or what was directly the cause of the accident they could not say. There could be no question of manslaughter.
The Jury, after a few minutes' consideration, returned the following verdict: — "That deceased did from concussion of the brain, caused by an accident whilst playing football on Saturday last, July 1, 1893, no blame being attached to anyone." The following rider was added: — "In our opinion the Rugby game of football, as played in New Zealand, is dangerous to life and limb, and the Legislature should take steps to regulate the game so as to improve the system, somewhat on the lines of the Victorian game."
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