NARROW ESCAPE FROM DROWNING.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 313, 14 January 1902, Page 2

NARROW ESCAPE FROM DROWNING.

A PLUCKY RESCUE. A narrow escape from drowning in the Turanganui River occurred in the vicinity of the wharf last evening to a boy named Rarnage, son of Mr William Rarnage, a driver in the employ of Mr R. Hi]]. It appears that the lad, in company with other boys, had gone in for a bathe in the river, near the stockyard, and got beyond bis depth. A young man named I)every jumped in to the rescue, and although he reached the boy he was unable to get him ashore. Indeed, the struggle was so exhausting to him that he himself was ii some danger. Fortunately Mr Charle Lowndes, who was passing by the flag staff on his way home, heard the cries c several persons on the Haiti wharf, thei exclamations being, “Just ahead of th Tawera.” He rushed to the wharf, am getting on board the steamer Waihi, sav that someone was struggling in the water He at once grasped a heaving line that wa laying on the grating of the Waihi, anc sprang into the water. He swam until hi reached Devery, who had a minute be fore lo3t his hold on the boy Lowndes put the rope which he earriec round Devery’s neck, and lifting one o Revery’s hands out of the water he placet it on the rope, which enabled him with the assistance that was forthcoming tc get ashore. After he parted with Reverj several persons on the wharf called out to Lowndes to look behind him, and doing so he observed a faint shadow in the water, which he took to be that of a boy. He dived and succeeded in catching hold of Rarnage, and was able to hold the lad partly out of the water until Mr MeConville, engineer of the Waihi, came to the rescue with a boat and took them both aboard. Upon reaching the shore Rarnage was taken on board the Venus, where efforts were made to resuscitate him, and with the assistance of Hr Cole, who was culled in, die boy was brought round and taken to his home. Rarnage bad a very narrow escape of being drowned, and great credit is due to Messrs Revery and Lowndes fur the services which they rendered. We understand that it is not the first occasion that Lowndes has been the means of saving life, he having on two different occasions in Auckland rescued a boy and a girl from drowning.