Reginald Grimstone, the 10-year-old son of Mr Grimstone, manager of the Bank of New Zealand at Alexandra, was killed by a fall of gravel in a pit in which he was playing with two others. The latter were covered up to their armpits, and their cries brought two men to their rescue. The men were not aware for some time that the boy Grimstone was completely covered. He was alive when taken out but died shortly after. -Lake County Press, 5/10/1905.
Sad Fatality. — A painful and fatal accident took place on Thursday afternoon. A number of boys were playing under a gravel face, in in their play were digging out a tunnel when, without a moment's warning the face fell in, covering three of the boys. One was buried up to the neck, another caught by the legs, and the third, Reginald Grimstone, was completely covered up under 3ft of earth and gravel. The screams of the other children quickly brought assistance, and two of the boys, Sawyers and Eggington, were soon released, but it took about 15 minutes to release young Grimstone, who was still breathing, but died shortly afterwards. The little lad, who was about 10 years of age, was buried to-day, his schoolmates fallowing the remains of their old playmate with reverence and kindly feeling. The whole community tenders its heartfelt sympathy to Mr and Mrs Grimstone in their sad bereavement. -Otago Witness, 4/10/1905.
Sad Fatality.
On Thursday last, about 5 p.m., the news that a sad accident had befallen the second son of Mr L. B. Grimstone, manager of the Bank of New Zealand, Alexandra, flashed around the town like wildfire, and sympathisers rushed to the scene of the disaster to find that the accident had terminated fatally. It appears that a number of children, their ages ranging from six to ten years, were playing in a gravel pit behind the town, when suddenly the whole face slipped away, three of the little boys being caught before they could escape. The children's cries soon brought willing helpers to their aid. One was buried to the armpits, another to the knees, and it was not till a cap was seen lying on the ground and the other two boys extricated from their perilous position that the fact that Reginald Grimstone was buried beneath the gravel became known. After digging for some minutes the little fellow was found with about three feet of gravel on top of him. When taken out life was extinct. Dr Gregg was sent for, but all his efforts to restore life were of no avail, some twenty minutes having elapsed from the time the accident occurred till the body was found. An inquest was held on Friday afternoon, when a verdict of "Accidental death " was returned. The jury added a rider "that local bodies should see that in gravel pits where the face was undermined the top bank was knocked down immediately."
The funeral took place on Saturday afternoon, and was attended by a large concourse of mourners, including the boys of the Alexandra school, who followed immediately behind the hearse, while six of the boys acted as pallbearers. The Rev. Father Hunt officiated at the grave.
"Rege," as he was familiarly called, was 10 years of age, and a general favorite with both young and old and the inhabitants of Alexandra and surrounding districts were deeply grieved on hearing of the sad fatality. Telegrams and expressions of sympathy were received by Mr and Mrs Grimstone from all parts of the colony; and we, as representatives of the community, extend our heartfelt sympathy to the bereaved parents in their extremely sad misfortune.
Mr and Mrs Grimstone desire to express their deep thanks for the many expressions of sympathy in their sad bereavement. -Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, 4/10/1905.
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