Our Waimate correspondent wires: — William George Foster, aged about 30, employed by Mr John Kellahan, chaffcutter, at Kingsdown, was killed by a fall from a motor cycle when passing through Waimate yesterday morning. No one saw the accident, but Foster was just conscious long enough to tell those first on the scene that he had run into a cow that was on the road beyond a sharp bend. Deceased's father lives on the Ruapuna Settlement. -Evening Star, 16/2/1914.
FATAL ACCIDENT.
MOTOR-CYCLIST'S DEATH.
A fatal accident happened yesterday near Waimate, to a member of a motorcycle party which started from Timaru in the morning for a run to Oamaru and back.
The party passed through Waimate, and some of them missed the main road, and had to get back to it by traversing a cross road that passed Knottingly Park. Among these was William George Foster, of St. Andrews, a man about 30, an employee of J. Kellahan, chaff-cutter, of Kingsdown. This smaller section of the party traversed the cross road some hundreds of yards apart. One of them, James King, of Waimate, came upon Foster lying on the road, evidently seriously hurt. The next rider to come up, Mr James, had a side chair, and Messrs King and James placed the injured man in the chair and took him to the Waimate Hospital. He was attended by Dr Barclay, who found that he had sustained a fracture of the skull and was dying from loss of blood. The accident happened a little before 11 a.m., and Foster died about 4 p.m.
On the way to the hospital, in answer to inquiries, Foster was understood to say that he ran into a cow. The other members of the party had gone on, unaware of the accident.
The police were notified, and got into communication with deceased's father, at Ruapuna, and with a brother-in-law, Mr Annette, on Pareora Settlement.
Deceased, it is said, was not a strong man, and his companions say that it is unlikely that he was riding at a faster rate than twelve miles an hour.
An inquest will be held at Waimate to-morrow morning. -Timaru Herald, 16/2/1914.
INQUEST.
THE MOTOR-CYCLE FATALITY.
An inquest concerning the death, of William George Foster was held at the Waimate Courthouse by Mr V. G. Day, Coroner, yesterday morning. Sergt Crawford assisted with the examination.
William Annett, farmer, St. Andrews, brother-in-law of deceased, said deceased was a traction engine driver and was thirty years of age. He was not a strong man.
Charles James, labourer, Russell Square, Timaru, said he worked with deceased. Witness and Sir J. King came upon deceased lying on the grass on the side of Knottingly Park road on Sunday morning, about 10.30. They bathed Foster's head, on one side of which there was a small wound. He was partly conscious. Spoke to him while he was lying on the grass, but he did not answer. Put him in his side-car and took him to Dr. Barclay's. While he was in the car witness asked him if he had run into a cow, and he said yes. There were cows on the road where deceased was. He had known deceased for two years; he was a man of sober habits. He had had no drink to witness's knowledge on Sunday morning.
George Walter Brehaut, cycle agent, Timaru, said he examined deceased's bicycle on Monday. It was in good condition, except that the right crank was bent. The motor did not show any signs of having struck anything in front. Deceased was a good rider, and a careful one.
James King, watchmaker, Waimate, said that on Sunday at about 10.30 a.m. he was rounding a corner on Knottingly Park Road when he saw a motor cycle lying on the road, and its rider lying in front of it. apparently badly hurt. The machine lying on the road was still running; witness stopped it. Carried deceased to the grass on the side of the road. When found, deceased was lying about three yards from the machine; lying as though had gone over the handle bars. C. J. James and other members of the Cycle Club came up. They bathed the man's head, and he rallied a little. He was semi-conscious. In reply to a question he said he had run into a cow. There were between eight and twelve cows on both sides of the road. They put deceased in James's side chair, and took him to Dr. Barclay's, and afterwards to the Hospital. When witness turned the corner the cattle were quietly grazing and loitering along the road.
Margaret McCahon, medical practitioner, said she and Dr Barclay examined the deceased. He was conscious just at first, but almost at once became unconscious. The only external injury was a slight scalp wound on the right side. The skull was found to be fractured, involving the base. Dr. Hayes was sent for in case an operation was necessary, but it was decided to be hopeless. Deceased died about ten minutes past three the same afternoon. The cause of death was hemorrhage, causing pressure on the brain. The hemorrhage was induced by the fracture rupturing blood vessels. Any fall such as being thrown over the handles of a motor cycle would cause such injuries.
The Coroner returned a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence. -Timaru Herald, 18/2/1914.
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