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A Meeve relative: A research sidetrack in Tasmania

When map reading I note that we are close to the place a distant relative of grandson no 2 died and was buried. The family story is that he was struck by lightning but a little research indicates he was struck by a tree limb that he was felling.  Something to beware of when researching: how time and re-telling changes fact.I also note how first aid practices have changed. A sad story.

INQUEST MARRAWAH An inquest was held at Marrawah Friday, before Mr. H. G. Spicer, coroner, and a jury (Mr. K. C. Laughton foreman) touching the death of Michael William Meeve, which occurred at Marrawah on the previous day. Sergeant Donoghue, of Stanley, represented the district police, and made the necessary arrangements for holding the enquiry. Bernard Charles Cronin, a farmer, residing near Marrawah, deposed to being acquainted with the deceased, whom he had employed to assist him in clearing on his farm. Witness and the deceased, Meeve, started to work in company on the morning of the 14th inst., and were engaged in felling a tree. As the tree started to fall, both men cleared away from it, Meeve being in front of witness. The witness turned round to watch the falling tree, and as he did so observed Meeve fall on his hands and knees. Witness went to his assistance, and found him bleeding from a wound on the head, just above the right temple. The deceased was unconscious for a few seconds, and then asked for a drinik. Witness gave him a drink of cold tea, and deceased expressed a wish to go home. Meeve with assistance, walked to the house of witness, distant about a quarter of a mile from the scene of the accident. Witness bathed the wound, bandaged it, and giving the deceased a glass of wine, got him to lie down upon a bed. He was perfectly conscious at the time, and complained of pain in the head, face, and neck. Witness left deceased in order to catch a horse to take the injured man to Marrawah. On his return to the house, after an absence of about fifteen minutes,witness found Meeve much worse. He said he did not believe he could ride to Marrawah, and asked witness to procure the services of some of the men working on the road. Witness left his brother, Lawrence, in charge of the deceased, and subsequently returned with two men from the road gang. The deceased then seemed delirious, and could not speak intelligibly. Meeve was placed on a stretcher, and conveyed to  Woodberry's factory, and witness wired a report to the doctor at Stanley. Doctor Gregg advised bringing the injured man to Montage, where he would meet him that night, if possible. This course was found impracticable, and the deceased was conveyed to the house of Mr. H. Smith, where he expired the same evening. The tree which witness and Meeve were felling had come down very suddenly, and struck another tree in falling.  Meeve was a native of Spring Jay, in Tasmania. He was the eldest grandson of the late Michael and Ann Hurley, Orford, aged 27 years. http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/45801770

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