SAD DROWNING CASE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1920, 1 November 1906, Page 4

SAD DROWNING CASE.

A SUDDEN COLLAPSE. AVhaugarei, Monday. Much consternation was caused at Grahamtown on Sunday evening by a shocking occurrence, which resulted in the death by drowning of Mr Peter Wilkinson. The latter and Eugene O’Neil jointly owned an oil launch, in which they with their wives and_ had ing the launch was run close in shore, and all landed except the deceased and his one child, a boy 12 years of age. They took the launch out to the moorings about 30 yards away, and fastened her, and Wilkinson and the boy then started for the shore in a small dingey. The deceased was sitting at the stern, and the boy was pulling on the centre thwart. They had gone only a little way when the dingey, which was in a very leaky condition, filled and sank, and the occupants went down with her. The father grasped his boy with one arm, and struck out for the shore with the other. Thinking ho had got into shallow water, he felt for a foothold, and finding none, sank over his head, and never reappeared. The boy, however, came to the surface. The remainder of the party had gone to their homo near at hand, except one youth, who, hearing cries, turned round and saw a struggle in the water, and ran to tho launch. A boat was lying on the beach, but thcro were no rowlocks or paddles. He rushed to O’Neil’s house, and acquainted him of the disaster. Both then went down to the shore, immediately poled off in tho punt, and picked up a iloating paddle on the way. The boy’s cap on the surface was tho only thing then visible. They made in that direction, and managed to rescuo the boy as ho was sinking for the last time. He soon recovered on boing taken ashore. The father’s body was found after dragging for over an hour. It was then discovered lying in 4ft of water, a few yards from the shore. At the inquest a verdict of death by accidental drowning was returned. The deceased had lately complained of heart pains, and it is thought probable ho was seized with a sudden attack of heart failure when unable to secure a footing. He was 37 years of age, and was employed on Government railway extension works.—N.Z. Herald.