ANOTHER MELANCHOLY CASE OF DROWNING.

Grey River Argus, Volume X, Issue 794, 11 February 1871, Page 2

ANOTHER MELANCHOLY CASE OF DROWNING.

— -~*> — Information was received at Cobden late on Thursday night that Mr Edward H. Davis, Assistant-Geologist to Dr Rector, had been drowned while crossing the Ten-mile Creek, North Beach, and that Mr Dent, Road Overseer, had a narrow escape from meeting a similar fate. The body of Mr Davis was recovered by Mr Patrick Warren, a storekeeper, at Ten-mile, and brought to J Cobden, where an inquest was held yesterday by Caleb Whitefoord, Esq., District Coroner. The following evidence was given : — James Dent : lam the manager of the Brunner Coal Mine in the Nelson Province. I know the deceased Edward H. Davis ; he has been making an examination of the Brunner CoalMine and the coal deposits in this part of the province generally. I received instructions from Mr Whitefoord to render the late MrDavis every assistance in my power at the mi no and elsewhere. After the deceased had examined the Brunner Mine we proceeded to examine the adjacent country. We started together and examined the coal deposits up towards the Rnzorback. j We were at the Razorback on Thursday, the 9th February, 1871. We left Razorraik about ten o'clock in the morning. We we were both riding. We came to the Ten-mile Creek together in company with Mr Colson. As we came to the Ten-mile Creek Mr Davis was in advance of me by about fifty yards. I was ahead of Colson. We were all riding on the beach towards Cobden from Razorback. There is a good track and bridge on the Ten-mile Creek, but by crossing where we were we saved some distance — about a mile. It was nearly low water when we got to the Ten-mile Creek. As Mr Davis and I cam« up to the creek Mr Davis rode up the creek about 100 yards from the mouth to a place where he had ! crossed the creek the night before. I called out to Mr Davis to keep lower down. There had been some rain during the day, and T could see the creek was high ; had I got to the creek first I should not have crossed. I don't think Mr Davis heard me call out to him. I saw Mr Davis come down the stream on horseback ; the current seemed to carry the librae down the stream, but tli« horse was on his feet. The horse and Mr Davi* passed abunt three yards in front of me and mv horse. At this ti=ne the wate" where 1 was was just up to the horse's back. I called out to the deceased not to check the horse, but he did not answer m«. I did not notice anything more until I .-of nut on the opposite bank of the creek. I then looked for deceased, I and saw the deceased's horse in the surf. By this tiniH I saw that Coulsonhad come up to the creek. I called out to Coulson to keep baok. At last I saw the horse makins? in about 200 yards south of the creek There was a bag on the saddle and I jrot into the surf and got the horse out ; at the the ■ time I thought that Davis was on the horse. I remained on the beach an hour and a-half , but never saw the- deceased alive again. Mr Davis was perfec^v sober. From what I saw [ fancy the deceased must, after he passed in front of me, have checked the horse he was riding suddenly, or that the horse tripped over a large boulder.

By a Juror : The creek rises suddenly. I think the accident may be attributed to the deceased not taking the creek at the proper ford, than to the height of the creek Ido not think there had been so much water to render the creek dangerous. At the the time of our coming to the creek we did not think there was any danger. The bottom of the creek is loose shifting gravel, and bad footing for horses. Thomas Coulson: I am at present engaged as a sub-ennmerator collecting the Census in the Nelson Province. I knew the deceased Edward H. Davis by sight. I was in company with him and Mr Dent yesterday (Thursday), the 9'h of February, 1871 . We reached the Tenmile Creek at half-past five o'clock in the afternoon. We were all riding, Mr Dent, myself, and the deceased. As we came to the Ten-mile Creek, Mr Dent and Mr Davis rode up to the creek in advance of me by about five hundred yards. .1 had remained behind to fasten my swag. Mr Davis took the creek about one hundred yards from its month. I quickened my pace. I saw a horse and rider roll over in the water. I did not at the time know who it was. I saw a man's arms above the water, and I also saw the horse roll over. I then rode up to the mouth of the creek as-hard as I could. I never saw the deceased again. I was going to cross the creek lower down, but Mr Dent beckoned to me not to do so. I then j went round by the road, and bridge. I stopped some pack horses that were going | to cross the creek. I had no difficulty in getting round the road. By crossing at the beach, there is a saving of nearly a mile. The water in the creek seemed to be up to the back of the horse Mr Dent was' riding. With the creek running at the height it wap, it would have been impossible for any man to render another assistance. I have crossed the creek myself when it has been higher. The bottom of the creek is loose shingle, and is bad foothold for horses. At the spot where~l saw the horse roll over, there are large boulders in the bottom of the creek. I think if deceased had crossed the creek lower down he would have been able to have got over all riarht. The Ten-mile Creek runs very rapidly, and if a horse once lost his footing while crossing the creek it would be impossible for him to recover it again. At the time we w«re riding up to the creek I did not think there was any danger. I had ridden to the Razorback with deceased the day previously. As we were going to the Razorback there was very little water in the creek, but there had been some rain the day we were returning. Mr Davis was riding a better horse than Mr Dent. Persons travelling up the beach usually cross the cre^k — it saves distance, and that is the reason persons go that way instead of the road. Patrick Warren : lam a storekeeper, and live at the Ten-mile Creek. I was coming from the Seventeen-mile Beach to the Ten-mile yesterday, 9th February. I met Coulson, the last witness. He told me not to cross the creek, as Mr Davis was drowned. I turned back, and came round by the road. I went to the mouth of the creek afterwards, about 6 p.m. About half-past seven in the evening! was called by my father, and I saw the body .

— «-'" -i-r-r-m in. .., T . * 4 ot deceased in the surf. I got the body out. The Ten-mile Creek is dangerous in flood time. The stream is very rapid, and the shingle shifts about. By crossing the creek, instead of going round the road, there is a saving of about a mile. I should have crossed the creek that day if Coulson had not stopped me. The jury returned a verdict in accordance with the facts.