FATAL CALAMITY.

Dunstan Times, Issue 657, 20 November 1874, Page 3

FATAL CALAMITY.

—o — Tho Pastoral Times relates tho following :~ The scene at Boonoke Station, near Deniliquin, the other day, when Mr Webber was lost, was one that possibly only takes place in Australia. He, 6ft. high, had left hearty and strong in the morning to place some sheep in one of the paddocks of the run, which is owned by Messrs Pcppin ; he had crossed over two bridges and had deposited the sheep, when it must have occurred to him that he could make a short cut of it. Instead of returning by the bridges, he determined to swim his horse, though the rider could not swim. In trying to swim across the narrow creek the horse must have rolled over, and poor Webber was drowned, while the horse landed safely. A second creek now interposed between the horse and the homestead, where at night he was expected, but not arriving there for the night, young Broughton, one of the overseers, started off a messenger to Conargo to make inquiries, but tho missing man had not been there. In the forenoon succeeding the evening of tho drowning, the horse which Webber rode was discovered within h,alf a mile or so of the homestead. The saddle was wet, and ?. watertight bag, or pouch, on the side of the saddle, was full cl water, showing that the horse had recently swum the second creek. Webber's faithful dog, too, had just returned. A caucus was now held, and in a very short time 2C mounted horsemen (the men wore either shearers or workers on the station) were off to search for Mr Webber. They tracked he horse's steps towards the creek, the dog in their company, running from one to another, looking unutterable things in his fidelity. On, on, they went, until they arrived within half s mile or so of the fatal spot, when the dog broke away howling, making straight for the water ; he then plunged in, and swam round the place where Ida master lay dead in 15ft. of water. Thirteen shearers now took off their clothes and dived for the body, the dog among them the most active. The moment that they relaxed their efforts he seemed to be seized with new life, plunged again and again into the water, ducked, ved, and cried bitterly. At length they gave up the search while they sent off to the station for a boat and drng-hooks. After 10 minutes’ operations with these, the body was recovered. The dog, faithful to the last, when his master's dead body lay fora few minutes stretched on the bank, clung to tho corpse. Forty-eight hours afterwards (Friday 16th) Mr. Webber, who on Tuesday was well ami in the vigour of his manhood was interred in Deniliquin Cemetery