THE FOX RIVER CATASTROPHE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2091, 19 March 1889, Page 3

THE FOX RIVER CATASTROPHE

The followng Is tbe "Charleston Herald's*' account of the above, brief particulars of whloh were telegraphed a few days ago : — " One of the saddest and most lamentable fatal accidents that ever happened In the Brighton Dlstiiot ooourred there on Saturday morning last, when a eon and daughter of Mr Tnomts Nevln'a and a man named William Ryan, formerly In the employ of Mr Drennan, of this town, lost their lives by the breakIng of the rope used for working the ana pension "chair" over Fox's river. It appears the children John and Margaret Nevln, aged 14 and 16 years, and the man Ryan, were returning from the south Bide of the river where they bad been to milk the oowe, and when about mid-stream the rope broke, precipitating the unfortunates Into the river, wbloh was In high flood at the time, and they were swept out to sea* Mrs Nevln saw tbe ohair as she was going into the house to put a boiler on the fire, and on coming outside again Immediately after she noticed it was gone. Sbe beoame alarmed and called her husband, who ran towards tbe river, and he jaat oaught sight of Ryan down close by the surf, and what he took to be the boy, a little on the north side of him, but soon after a huge wave overwhelmed them snd they were seen no more. It is supposed that Ryan, who was an expert swimmer had done his utmost to save the boy and only relinquished his hold through exhaustion. This supposition Is probably correct, seeing that they were so olese together at the edge of the turf, which waa about 150 yards from where the rope broke. Tbe news of the ecoldent was received In Charleston early m the afternoon and created » profound sensation, Mr and Mrs Nevln «re held In the highest estimation by everyone In the distriot, and It Is almost unnecessary for us to add that they have the heartfelt sympathy of all In their sad affllotlon. Poor Billy Ryan,

too, h»d many friends wbo will regret his sad and untimely end. He wan a quiet, unassuming man, about 54 years of age, and *as just tbe soit of man that would risk his life to save that of another. None of the bodies have yet been recovered."