FATAL ACCIDENT IN THE WAITAKI.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 196, 25 January 1875, Page 3

FATAL ACCIDENT IN THE WAITAKI.

The North Otago Times of the 19th instant, gives the following particulars of this sad accident:— A very painful sensation was created throughout the town yesterday, by a rumor (which, unfortunately, proved to be only too true) that Miss Jennie Anderson (Mrs Frank Yerton) had been drowned while endeavoring to cross the Waitaki river on Sunday. The public feeling was all the deeper that it was only on Saturday night that Mrs Verten was performing at the Volunteer Hall, and by her unassuming and ladylike manner on the stage, no less than by the skill which she displayed in her sleight of hand performances, won golden opinions from all. On hearing of the accident we dispatched a reporter to the Waitaki, who heard several versions of the circumstances of the sad occurrence, and though the various accounts differ as to some of the particulars, we believe the following to be a correct statement of what transpired. It appears that the troupe, comprising Mr and Mrs Verten, Mr Llewellyn Thomas (harpist), and Mr J. H. Gregg, the “herd laddie,” with his two performing dogs, started from Oamaru on Sunday morning, at seven o’clock, in a two-horse express, driven by Mr George Bentley, accompanied by his brother, Mr Charles Bentley, for the Waitaki Ferry, en route for Waimate and Timnru. at which places they were announced to appear. As a matter of course they took with them their properties, including a harp, value 100 guineas, belonging to Mr Thomas, and a considerable sum in cash, which was enclosed in one of (he packages—the luggage in all weighing about 5 owt. The party arrived at the Elephant Hotel between 9 and 10 o’clock, and after partaking of breakfast, hoisted the flag of the ferryman to come over. As. after waiting a considerable time, no response was made to the signal, they concluded to go down the river to where the new railway bidge crosses the stream, Mr Charles Bentley here taking the ribbons, as knowing the road better than his brother. They arrived at the Waitaki Bridge Hotel at. noon, and after making enqu ries as to the condition of the river, which is here divided into several streams, crossed the first, a shallow stream, to procure the services of a man named Scott to pilot them over the river. After crossing the stream Mr George Bentley left the express and went in quest of Scott, who returned with him to the express, and in reply to the queries by Messrs Verten and Thomas, assured them that the river was safe to cross, and that the water would not reach above the horses’ knees ; or that, at any rate, the luggage in the express would not be wetted. He (Mr Scott) then, it appears, told another man to jump into the trap, and he would walk along the girders of the bridge, and direct him what course to take, but on Messrs Verten and Thomas asking why. if the water was so shallow, he did not go in the express himself, Scott took off his boots and got into the vehicle. Before attempting to cross, Messrs Verten and Thomas got out of the express, intending to go with George Bentley across the girders of the bridge, and the two former endeavoured to persuade Mrs Verten to accompany them, which, on Scott representing that “ there was no danger in fording, as he knew every inch of the river,” and that “ it was hardly safe for a female to go over the girders,” she refused to do so. Verten, Thomas and G. Bentley then proceeded to cross by the bridge, and the express, driven by C. Bentley, attempted the ford, piloted by Scott, the vehicle containing, besides these two, Mrs Verten, sitting with the two men named on the front seat, and Mr Gregg seated on a box in the hinder part of the trap, his two dogs being tied to the side of the vehicle, When entering the water, Scott instructed Bentley to head down stream to a (supposed) shingle spit, and he did so. The horses got deeper and deeper, and before they were half across the stream the water was up to their collars, observing which, and

fearing an accident, Mr Verten called out from the bridge to his wife, who had I urned to him, looking frightened—“ Don’t b n frightened, Jennie. I’ll swim in for you and save you”—and immediately pulled off his coat and vest. Almost at lhe same instant the horses lost their footing, and Scott, taking the near rein out of Bentley's hand, tried to turn them up-stream, but without avail. The express then canted over down-stream, and when within a few yards of the up-stream girder the driver sprung oti the box. and swam for the bridge, which he reached, and was pulled out of the water A rush was made by the spectators on the bridge to the spot at which any person floating from the express must pass, and in a few seconds afterwards Mrs Verten, who had either jumped or been washed out of the vehicle, came floating down. As she came to the girder her husband caught her by the arm, her head being at the time under water. Hearing her arm grating against the girder, and thinking it was broken, he endeavored with the other hand to catch hold on the down stream side, but just then some person rushed past him and threw him over, and he lost his hold ; and as Mrs Verten floated away it is surmised that she struck her head against the bottom of the girder, as it was afterwards found to be severely bruised. As she passed the opposite girder on the downstream side a man named Cook caught her by the shawl, but the pin by which it was fastened gave way, and, after floating about six yards, she sank. A man named Croker sprang into the river, and swam down some distance, but. could find no sign of her. Soon after Mrs Verten left the express, Mr Gregg was washed out, but managed to keep hold of (he handle of the box he was sitting on, which floated him to the bric'ge, where hewas fortunately rescued; Scott remained in the express till it floated to the bridge, and catching hold of the girder hauled himself up. The express jammed against the girder, and both the horses were released by cutting the traces, but one of them was drowned All 'he boxes containing the troupe’s properties were floated down the river, and some of them lost, including that containing their money, while of those recovered, the contents are spoiled by their immersion. The two dogs were also drowned. The loss to Mr G. Bentley is considerable, amounting to between £SO and £6O. The body of Mrs Verten was recovered about a mile and a half down the river about an hour afterwards, by Mr P. Dunbar. An inquest was held on the remains yesterday, at the Waitaki Bridge Hotel, by the district coroner, and a verdict of “Accidentally Drowned” was returned. Great sympathy is felt for Mr Verten, and we understand that it is in contemplation to make a subscription for his relief in a pecuniary sense, as he is left almost penniless, although for the greatest loss which he has sustained no human aid can avail. Mrs Verten was, we understand, only twenty years of age, and but recently married.