SEVEN LIVES LOST.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 11 April 1910, Page 3

SEVEN LIVES LOST.

DROWNING CAS MS AT WAXGAXI'I. [feu puebs association.] WAXGAXI'f, April 12. A distressing drowning accident occurred at Castlecliff about liomi to-day, whereby eight lives were lost, tho drowned 1 j t?i 11cr members of two Families, Ludlam and Anderson. A number of residents had arranged a picnic on the Soutb Spit, and a flat-bottomed boat was used to lerry picnickers across the. river. The first trip was sal'elv accomplished and the boat left again with ten occupants. All went well umtil the middle of the river was reached, when .a strong tide and swell Iroui the sea made a. nasty jobble. An attempt was made, to turn back, but when the boat was broadside on it capsized. .nil the occupants being precipitated into the water. A fisherman on South Spit noticed the catastrophe and put oft to the rescue. He managed to save two boys and then saw the body of a woman floating. This proved to Ik* .Mis Ludlam, tightly clasping her little children. Moth were dead. The alarm was then given, but owing to the rough state of the river, dragging could not be carried out. It is expected that the bodies will be taken out to sea and washed ashoro along the beach. A large party of police and residents are searching. So far as can be ascertained at present, those drowned are: — Mrs Ludlam, 10. wife of Walter Ludlam, butcher, of Cas.tleeliff. William Ludlam, 20. •lames Ludlam. IS. Claude Ludlam, 10. Gladys Ludlam. o. Mrs Phema Anderson. -18, wife of George Anderson, working foreman at tho harbour works and her four children - Maud Anderson, 18. Ernest Anderson, 3. l'obcrt Jenkins, 20. and David Anderson, aged 8, clung to the boat and were saved. Moth families are well known at Castlecliff, and the township has been plunged in gloom.