FATALITIES. HEROISM OF TWO BOYS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 88, 15 April 1911, Page 5

FATALITIES. HEROISM OF TWO BOYS.

[BY TELEGBAPH — PBESS ASSOCIATION.] AUCKLAND, 13th April. • Further particulars have been received of the drowning of three Maoris at Waikato Heads. Hori Whari Tamihana (18 years of age), Toha Whare Tamihana (13), and Hori Taro (12), were drowned, and Tiki Whare Tamihana (15)ivas saved. It appears that the two girls were fishing from a boat in the vVaikato River, and got into a strong current, with the result that they were capsized in the eea, on the ' bar. The two boys, seeing their difficulties, took a canoe and went to the rescue. They fearlessly followed the girls over the bar and caught the other boat, making theirs fast to it. Both boats, however, sot into the breakers, which were very heavy, and capsized, the whole four Maoris being taken out to sea. Mr. W. Cobourne and Mr. E. Spargo, witnessing their plight, put ont quickly in another Tioat, but were unable to .L-ender assistance. Some time after Mr. Cobourne, from a point of vantage, saw a boat half a mile along the coast in the surf and proceeded thither. On arrival he found a girl and boy clinging to it, and, at great risk, he went breastdeep in the surf and saved the girl. The boy was struck on the forehead by the boat and sank. The boy and girl had been two hours in the water. Several people saw them carried over the bar, and speak of the heroism of i the two schoolboys.