SAD ACCIDENT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1686, 13 October 1887, Page 3

SAD ACCIDENT.

FOUR CHILDREN DROWNED. A very melanoholy accident occurred about aevenjo'olook last evening, by which the lives of four children were loaf. Mr Jenkins, who resides close to the Woollen Faotory, was rdturning from Alford iForest In a trap with his wife and four children. He attempted to cross the river at the ford near Mr BeateH's, when the vehiole upset. The river has been high during the hut few • days, and the ford at this &pot was rendered very dangerous, the stream having, j we understand, entirely changed its course. Mr Jenkins had j«at entered the river when the trap, whioh was a very light one, presumably went Into a hole •nd caps'zsd. Mrs Jenkins held on to tha youngest child, eighteen months old, but after sinking twice had to let the poor little thing go. The other ohildren were all swept away and drowned. After the trap eipslzed Mr Jenkins did not Bee any of the ahlldreu with the exception of the little |jlrl, whom he saw m his wife's arms. Just after the Infant had been carried away Mr Jenkins managed to catch hold of bis wife and the two got oat of the river and made their .way to Mr Knox's, where everything possible was done for them. Mr Corbett .rode Into town bringing news of the melanoholy affair. Tho horse was drowned. The names snd ages of tho ohildren were as follows: -Charles Frederick, 8 years ; Thomas, 5 years; William Robert, 3 years; Emily Mubel, 18 months. At daybreak this morning. Mr W. B. Compton and a party went down and found the bodies of two of the boys and of the little girl on a spit about ten or twenty ohalns below the spot where, the trap was capsized. The river was then followed down till the body of the'otber boy was found near the Woollen Factory. - Mr Jenkins is well-known m Ashburton, and was formerly m habeas here as a fishmonger. Muoh sympathy is felt . for the bereaved parents, and when news •_ of the melancholy aooldent came to hand • quite a painful thrill u ran through the , community.