RUNANGA TRAGEDY

Hokitika Guardian, 20 November 1931, Page 4

RUNANGA TRAGEDY

TWP BOYS DROWNED. A very sad double fatality occurred in Raleigh Creek, Runanga, last evening, the victims being infant boys, ar.d cousins. They were George Eswardi Kenrick, aged four years and seven months, eldest child of Mr and A rs George Kendrick, of Duncan street Runanga; and Alijan Duggan, -aged three years and seven months, youngest child of Mr and Airs John Duggan of Ranfurly street, Runanga* The news of the tragedy cast a gloom over the whole township. It appears that both children, who were playmates, left the home of Air and Airs Hendrick to go to Duggan’s at about 5 p.m. yesterday, hut when her son was not home at 5.30 o’clock Mrs Duggan went over to Kendrick’s to see if die was there. She was then informed that lie had left for home in company with hife cOUsln, half ail hour previously. A stafeh lor the boys was then cOtninfcneed. Beth sides of the ct’oek, in which there was only a few inches water, were searched, thoroughly, but it was not until about 8 o’clock that the bodies were recovered. They were found by Mr William Duggan, uncle cf the deceased hoy Duggan, in a large hole about eight feet wide, and containing four feet of water at the bottom of a slope in the creek. One of the bodies wa s bruised a little about the face and it appeared that he might have fallen in and the other gone in after him.

Artificial respiration was used and Dr Meade was summoned, but on hiis arrival, he could only pronounce lifs extinct, death, having in both ca r e«, taken place. a couple of hours previous to the bodies being recovered.