FATAL ACCIDENT.
A sad fatality occurred on the Blue Spur road, near Lawrence, last evening about half-past six o'clock, the victim being a boy (10 years of age) named James Gordon Porter, son of Mr David Porter, Melbourne street, South Dunedin. The little fellow was staying for the holidays with his uncle, Mr D. L Christie, of Lawrence. At about six o'clock he was, with his cousin — a boy of about the same age — put on Mr Christie's horse by his elder cousin to ride up to the head of the water-race to turn off the mill water. The horse evidently took fright and, after travelling same distance up the road, both boys felt off opposite Mr R. Marshall's residence, the deceessd falling beneath the horse's legs and receiving injuries to his head which must have caused instantaneous death. The other boy, though hurt, is not seriously so. A number of persons witnessed the occurrence, but were unable to render any assistance. John Christie, who put the boys on the horse, says he cannot understand what caused the horse to clear out as it is a very quiet animal, the boys having ridden it in similar fashion for a number of evenings. -Tuapeka Times, 22/1/1902.
INQUEST.
An inquiry into the circumstances attending the death of James Gordon Porter was held in the Borough Council Chambers on Wednesday before Mr T. Pilling, J.P., and a jury of six, of which Mr Alex. Blair was chosen foreman.
Sergeant Bowman conducted the inquiry. The jury having viewed the body,
D. L. Christie, flour miller, Lawrence, gave evidence and said the deceased boy was a nephew of his and had been staying at his place for the past fortnight on a holiday. He was a son of David Porter, South Dunedin, and was about 10 years of age. He knew nothing personally as to how the accident had occurred.
William Sutherland, duly qualified medical practitioner, Lawrence, said he was called to see the deceased on Tuesday evening about 7 o'clock and, on viewing the body, he found a depressed fracture at the base of the skull which must have caused death almost immediately. It could have been caused by the heel of the horse's shoe. There was no projection on the road where the accident occurred to cause such an injury. There was also a slight bruise on the upper part of the chest. Having heard the circumstances of the accident, he was of opinion that death was caused in the manner described.
Jno, G. Christie, son of the first witness, saw the deceased on Monday evening about twenty minutes to seven when he put him and a younger brother of his (witness) on his father's horse. They were to ride to the mill dam, halfway to the Blue Spur. He had intended to have ridden alongside of them on a bicycle. Before he got on the bicycle deceased said "Hurry up John," and he then started the horse off at a canter. He got on the bicycle and followed them up and sang out to his brother to catch hold of the reins with the deceased, who was in front. The horse was then galloping. They went out of sight from him after they got round a corner of the road. After going some distance further he met his brother walking back and he was told by him that Gordon was lying on the road. His brother was cut about the face. He went up to where the boy was lying and found Mr B. Marshall there, who told him to ride for the doctor, which he did at once, going for Dr Sutherland, who came immediately. The boys had several rides on the horse in the same way before and everything had passed off all right. He was a quiet horse. Had no idea that he would bolt, otherwise he would not have put the boys on him. Both boys were about the same age. The horse had never bolted before.
Robert Marshall, laborer, Gabriels Gully, said that on Tuesday evening he heard screams while in his own house about a-quarter to seven o'clock. Peter Matthews, who was coming into witness's place, met him at the gate and told him that the two boys had been thrown off the horse. He found the deceased boy lying on the road, about 60 yards from witness's gate. He was lying on his side and he pub him on his back and found h9 was dead. The last witness then came up and he directed him to go for the doctor. Did not see the accident occur. Dr Sutherland was soon on the ground.
Peter Matthews, compositor, was going into Lawrence on Tuesday evening at about a quarter to seven when he met young Christie and the deceased on horseback. The horse was going at a hard gallop, and the lad Christie was screaming, which seemed to make the horse go faster. Shortly after he heard the screams the lads were thrown off, Christie being the first to fall. The horse still continued galloping. Witness then went back for Marshall and they both went to where the lad Porter was lying. After having a look at the lad they sent Jno. Christie for the doctor. Witness could see that the boy was dead.
By the jury; He saw the boy Porter clinging to the horse's neck for a little while and then he fell and was struck by one of the horse's fore feet. Christie fell clear of the horse.
This being all the evidence, the jury at once returned a verdict that the deceased lad James Gordon Porter met his death by accidentally falling from a horse on the Blue Spur road on Tuesday evening, 21st January. -Tuapeka Times, 25/1/1902.
An observant reader might note a difference between the dates on James Porter's gravestone and the newspapers presented above. I have no idea why that would be.
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