COLLAPSE OF A BRIDGE

Hokitika Guardian, 19 January 1920, Page 4

COLLAPSE OF A BRIDGE

CAUSES DROWNING ACCIDENT,

C Alt TEUTON, Jan. 13

While a mob of cattle from Barton’s White Rock statidii was being driven across the liuamahanga Bridge at Kahutara to-day, a span of the structure collapsed, and thirty of the cattle fell into the stream below. All but one beast got back to the shore, the remaining animal besoming entangled in the railings of the broken bridge, which floated down stream. Three men named Taylor, Sales, and Johnson were in charge of the herd, and with the object of trying to save we isolated animal, Johnson, who was about twenty-one years of age, and a good swimmer, stripped and swam out to the floating portion of the structure. Apparently, he intended to fasten the broken part to some willows. He readied the spot safely, but finding that he could not do anything, he commenced to make his way back to the bank, when he evidently saw some ladies there. He did not swim ahead, but turned back for the other siue of the river. The distance proved too far, however, and, becoming exhausted, he sank about twenty yards from the bank. Johnson was a returned soldier, and it is understood that he had a brother-in-law managing a station in the Lower Valley. The body has not yet been recovered. The collapse of the bridge will necessitate all traffic for places south of the river going through MartinborOugh and down the Otararu Road.