DEATH BY DROWNING.

Dunstan Times, Issue 969, 12 November 1880, Page 3

DEATH BY DROWNING.

* The following particulars of the drowing of a brother of Mr John Butler of Bald Hill Flat, wu glean from the Wakatip Mail.— i We regret, tohavc-to record the particulars 1 of what seem to indicate that a fatal accident has occurred to one Frank Butler, younger brother to M r P. Butler, of this town, and who has been missing since Tuesilay, evening, the 21st inst. From what we cau learn Mr Butler and another man, named H. M ‘Neill, left Mr o‘K.anc’s, "Antrim Arms Hotel, Frankton, perfectly sober, about 10 o’clock oh the night in question, andaliout an hiur subsequently after wa king together about half a mile in conversation, parted -the latter for Mr F. M'Brides' fanh. Frankton Flat, and the former for the private ferry (just above the Kawarau Falls) of Mr J. C. C. Boyes, in whose employ Butler was engaged, we believe, as general farm servant. It is probable, however, that the fenyman who jived at the opposite side had retired to rest, and Bulh-r not wishing to he kept out all night, had attempted to swim across this dangerous outlet of the Lake, ami, in doing so, had either succumbed to the effects of cramp, or else got too nea r the Falls, and was carried dowit by the rapids into the Kawa au river. • The fact of all the clothes (except his hat) having been found in a stable, close by, point to the proj baliility of the missing man hiving met I with a watery grave. Butler was a firstj class swimmer, -and it is said, not long since swam .across the arm of ihe Lake opposite Battery’ Hill—a distance, we should j say, of a mile He was advised by Mr | M'Net’ll, on Tuesday, to.stay with him for j tho night, hut apparently .depending too i much upon his physic il powers—declined, saiing that if the ferryboat was not to be ; got he would swim over. The stable is situated some distance above the Ferry or Falls, and where the breadth of the water is much greater. Butler had therefore, | most likely, entered the' element lower down, amt—the night being very dark, with no guiding light—he might either have started too near or, having gone astray, been drawn mfe the too strong current The brother of fho unfortunate man nevertheless fancies that he did no'ttake to the water, because his hat, which was a cork one, has ne.t,-been.,.fonnd; If, -however, this article was of such a, buoyant kind, it is the more likely, wm. think, that ifwonld bo carried' Lh r; faiUior— possibly even down the Kawarah and Molvneiix to the sea, a distance of nearly 160 miles Wo trust, however, Mr I}.1 } . Butler’s surmise may he found correct, and. that his brother may yet tu’n up. safe and sound. , Search parties were out on Wednesday, and examination made of the banks of the Kawarau as far as the Horse Shoe Bend, but no trace of anything could be found. Yesterday Mr P.' Butler, and a number of friends left here for the purpose of dragging the Kawarau, and at the site of the supposed accident, but no tidings of re- ; covery had reached here up to last evening. : We hare since learned that the body was i found in the Lake.- Mr C. C. Boyes held I an inquest on the Bth inst., when a verdict i of accidental death was returned.