EIGHT DROWNED.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 788, 11 April 1910, Page 7

EIGHT DROWNED.

ACCIDENT AT CASTLECLIFfc BOAT CAPSIZESA FISHERMAN TO THE RESCUB IBy Teleeraph.—Press Wanganul, April 10. A distressing drowning accident occurred at CastlcclifE about noon to-day, whereby eight lives wero lost, tho drowned beiug members of two families—Lud--lam and Anderson. A number of residents had arranged a picnic on tho South Spit, and a flat bottomed boat was used to ferry picnickers across. The first trip was safely accomplished, and the boat left agaio. with ten occupants. All went well until the middle of tho river was reached, when a strong tide , and swell from the soa mado a nastj, "jobble." An attempt was made to turn back, but when the boat was broadside on it capsized, all the occupants being precipitated into tho -water; A fisherman on tho'Sonth Spit noticed , > the catastrophe, and put off to the rescue. Ho managed to save two boys, and then saw the body of a woman floating. This proved to be Mrs. Ludlam, tightly , clasping one of her little children. Both wore dead. .Tho'alarm was then given, but owing to tho rough state of tho river , dragging , ., could not bo carried out. It is u- ■ pected that the bodies will be taken out to sea and washed ashoTe along th<? beach. A large party of police and residents are searching. So far as can be ascertained at present, those drowned are: — MRS.' LUDLAM, wife of Mr. Walter Ludlam, butcher,' at Castlecliff, and four children, two beingf _ sons aged 18 and 20 years. MRS. ANDERSON, wife of Mr. George . Anderson, working foreman at th< : harbour works, and two. children. Included 'in theso latter are: Maud and Mary, aged' 16 and 1? respectively. Ono of the Andersons and one of the Ludlams wero saved. Both families are well known at, Castlecliff, and the township has boaa plunged in gloom. Later. One body has just been recovered. Those drowned to-day were:— Mrs Ludlam, aged 49. Walter Ludlam, aged' 20. James Ludlam, aged 18. Claude Ludlam, Aged 10. Gladys Ludlam, aged 5. Mrs. Anderson, aged 48. Maud Alexander, aged- 18. Ernest Alexander, aged 3. The body recovered was thai of Wa!« ter Ludlam. Mrs. Ludlam was,clasping Ernest Anderson to her breast when their bodies were found. FURTHER PARTICULARS. HOW THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. (By Tolephone—Special.) From further inquiries made' as to thd; probable cause of tho accident, it would: appear that tho boat was, over-loaded,: and very low in tho water. When it overturned, it immediately sank, but eventually rose to the surface. The. accident, unfortunately, was not" ob-, served by those who had been ferried/ over on the previous trip. At tni! part of the river a long sand-spit nsoa from the landing-place, and the first party had passed over, out of _ sight,, before the boat, on its second trip, gob into difficulties. The only person who saw the occurrence was the fisherman, who subsequently went away, aftej saving the two boys, and giving assist, ance. His name and whereabouts coultf not be ascertained. .... Castlecliff, tho locality of the accident, is four miles south of Wanganm, at the river mouth, and is a favourite seaside resort. for the people of thai district.