Page 4 Advertisements Column 4

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 166, 25 July 1901, Page 4

During a conversation amongst three men, named Andrew Atkinson, Henry Smith, and Richard Langridge, in tho Volunteer Arms Hotel, Albert street, Eastern Hill, yesterday afternoon (says the Melbourne Age of the 16th inst.), the subject of swimming was brought up, and, after a good deal of talk in tho course of which Atkinson boasted of his swimming powers, he offered to give an ocular demonstration of them by swim-

ming across the Yarra and back again. Tho three men got into a cab and drove to the river at the foot of Hanover street, South Yarra, where there is a spit of land in tho stream uncovered by the water. Atkinson undressed in the cab, and said he would swim across the current to this small islet, and return. Having plunged into the water, ho struck out, swimming strongly, but when within 20ft of the bank of exposed land, he exclaimed “ I’m done!” and sank, as his companions expressed it, “like a.stone.” As the swimmer

did not reappear, the spectators grew alarmed, and procured a line, with some vague idea that it might be wanted, but not being able to do any good, they informed the South Richmond police of the occurrence. The water in the river is intensely cold from the snows which have fallen in the mountains, and it is probable that Atkinson was seized with cramp. It certainly seems a remarkable thing that no attempt was made to dissuade the unfortunate man from carrying out the senseless freak which has deprived a wife and three young children of their bread winner. Atkinson was a carpenter by trade. Don’t ever play with dynamite, In case it should dxplode, . Beware of robbers late at night, And take the safest road. Don’t laugh at any little ill, But health at once secure, Bad coughs and colds arise from chill, •Take Wooes' Grsax Psr?s?,awi Cvbfj