Clambering along a track I rarely use the other day I noted 2 nearby graves inscribed with “accidentally killed” memorials – one to a man killed while bushfelling in Woodville in August 1912 and the other for a lad drowned in Te Aro pool in December of the same year.
A quick search of New Zealand newspapers using the wonderful facility provided by the National Library - http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz – reveals the details. In the first case the young man, a settler in the area “met with a frightful accident this afternoon, while engaged with a neighbour in bushfelling. Suddenly a large tree came down and pinned Hooper to the ground, and he was unconscious when assistance reached him. It took some time to lift the tree.“
Both Hooper’s legs were broken and he sustained internal injuries. A doctor was summoned, but Hooper died shortly after from shock, it was further reported. His parents lived in South Karori which is presumably why their fourth son, John, was buried in the Karori Cemetery.
The other incident attests to the popularity of the Te Aro Baths. These were saltwater and were the first public baths in Wellington, built in 1862. They were in Oriental Bay, where the Freyberg Pool is now. Although fixed to the shore they were sited in the harbour and therefore tidal. For reasons of convenience and expense, saltwater baths remained the only such facilities built until well into the 20th century. There was another saltwater bathing facility at Thorndon, built alongside the Thorndon reclamation, completed in 1882.
In December 1912 Reggie Jounnax, a telegraph messenger boy, went to the baths for a swim before reporting for work at 6,00pm. Late that afternoon there were between three and four hundred men and boys at the baths. Reggie’s uniform was found on a peg in a cubicle by the caretaker after the baths were closed for the day. The pool was then dragged, but nothing was found, leading to speculation that Reggie may have climbed over the wall and fallen into the harbour, or some suspicious act had taken place. Next morning, at low tide, Reggie’s body was found in about 5 feet of water in the pool, not far from the chute (presumably the precursor of today’s hydro slides). An inquest was held two days later, which concluded “death was due to accidental drowning and that no blame was attachable in any way to the caretaker of the baths.”
These tragic deaths are just two of many who are buried throughout the cemetery and include the sad inscription “accidentally killed” or the brief details of the event which led to the death on their headstone. Come walking with me and I’ll tell you about some of the others.
Contact me on kararicemeterywalk@gmail.com or 021065 3778
A quick search of New Zealand newspapers using the wonderful facility provided by the National Library - http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz – reveals the details. In the first case the young man, a settler in the area “met with a frightful accident this afternoon, while engaged with a neighbour in bushfelling. Suddenly a large tree came down and pinned Hooper to the ground, and he was unconscious when assistance reached him. It took some time to lift the tree.“
Both Hooper’s legs were broken and he sustained internal injuries. A doctor was summoned, but Hooper died shortly after from shock, it was further reported. His parents lived in South Karori which is presumably why their fourth son, John, was buried in the Karori Cemetery.
The other incident attests to the popularity of the Te Aro Baths. These were saltwater and were the first public baths in Wellington, built in 1862. They were in Oriental Bay, where the Freyberg Pool is now. Although fixed to the shore they were sited in the harbour and therefore tidal. For reasons of convenience and expense, saltwater baths remained the only such facilities built until well into the 20th century. There was another saltwater bathing facility at Thorndon, built alongside the Thorndon reclamation, completed in 1882.
In December 1912 Reggie Jounnax, a telegraph messenger boy, went to the baths for a swim before reporting for work at 6,00pm. Late that afternoon there were between three and four hundred men and boys at the baths. Reggie’s uniform was found on a peg in a cubicle by the caretaker after the baths were closed for the day. The pool was then dragged, but nothing was found, leading to speculation that Reggie may have climbed over the wall and fallen into the harbour, or some suspicious act had taken place. Next morning, at low tide, Reggie’s body was found in about 5 feet of water in the pool, not far from the chute (presumably the precursor of today’s hydro slides). An inquest was held two days later, which concluded “death was due to accidental drowning and that no blame was attachable in any way to the caretaker of the baths.”
These tragic deaths are just two of many who are buried throughout the cemetery and include the sad inscription “accidentally killed” or the brief details of the event which led to the death on their headstone. Come walking with me and I’ll tell you about some of the others.
Contact me on kararicemeterywalk@gmail.com or 021065 3778
