Catherine Butler, (1869-23/4/1899). "the long sad procession"

FATAL ACCIDENT.

(By Telegraph — Press Association.)

DUNEDIN, this day

A young woman named Catherine Butler was killed at Bald Hill Flat. She was driving with her sisters when some dogs rushed at the horse causing it to swerve off the road. The animal then commenced kicking and struck Miss Butler while sitting in the trap, killing her. The two sisters had a very narrow escape.  -Auckland Star, 25/4/1899.

DEATH OF MISS KATE BUTLER. 

It is our very painful duty to record a very sad and awfully sudden death which occurred through a buggy accident, at Bald Hill Flat, last Sunday afternoon. It appears that Miss Kate Butler and her two sisters (daughters of Mr John Butler, J.P., member of our County Council) were driving down the main road through the flat, and when passing Falconer's Speargrass Hotel, some dogs rushed out among the horse’s feet, barking and jumping. The horse, which was rather fiery, took fright and swerved right round past Falconer’s house towards the tailings, to which there is a somewhat steep descent. Going down here, one of the sisters was thrown clear of the buggy, but the deceased somehow got thrown against the wheel, which was revolving quickly at the time. In a short time she must have been unconscious; and when, a few minutes after, the buggy stopped and the horse went clear with the shafts, friends and neighbours hastened to extricate the body of the deceased from the wheels, it was found that life was all but extinct, and death followed in a few minutes thereafter. 

The sad and appalling sudden nature of the death of such a well known and much esteemed fine young girl gave a shock to the whole community, and deep sorrow was felt in every household and universal sympathy for the bereaved father, brothers and sisters. 

On Monday afternoon, at 4 p.m , an inquest was held before the deputy coroner Mr H. Symes, J.P., and a jury of six, the verdict being ‘accidental death.’ 

The funeral took place on Wednesday last, and the cortege was one of the longest we have ever seen for many a day in Alexandra, there being between 50 and 60 conveyances, besides horsemen and those on foot. A short halt was made at St. John’s Chapel, Alexandra, where the Rev. Father Hunt conducted a solemn and appropriate service in the presence of a large congregation. The long sad procession then resumed its way to the cemetery where the Rev. Father Hunt again conducted the solemn services for the dead, in the presence of a large gathering of people.  -Otago Daily Times, 28/4/1899.

Alexandra Cemetery.