A TRAGIC WEEK.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4687, 14 April 1924, Page 2

A TRAGIC WEEK.

FATALITIES AT KJ RAN GUI AKE. OHINEMURI CLAIMS TWO VICTIMS On Monday afternoon, April 7, the residents of Karangaliake were greatly shocked when it became known that Christina Catherine Pool, daughter of Mrs E. P.ilton, had fallen into the Hooded Ohineinuri river on her way home from school. As soon as the alarm was given everyone available did all that was humanly possible tn an endeavour to locate th.; bodv. but ow ing to the flooded state of the stream all efforts were fruitless.

It appears that the unfortunate child, notwithstanding warnings from her teacher, and later from her schoolmates, persisted in paddling in the water, in the course of which she stood on an undermined stone which precipitated her- head foremost into the raging torrent. A gallant attempt was made by Miss May O'Neil, but without result, for by that time the torrent had the child at its mercy, and she was forced to relax her grip on the branch of a tree she had managed to grasp. She was swept quickly away and was lost to sight. Throughout the week search parties scoured the river, but no trace of the body could be found owing to the flooded state of the river.

On Friday evening every available man in the district attended a meeting to organise for the purpose ol thoroughly searching the river during the week-end, and on Saturday morning one of the parties which included Messrs Remington and Griffin was successful. The body was eventually found in the bend of the river at the foot of Turner’s Hill on the Mackaytown side. Included in the programme of th? search was the building of a raft for th? purpose of dragging the numerous deop. nolcs in the river. This was constructed at the railway bridge, and had been successfully used for about twn hours when word was received that the body had been recovered. Dragging operations ceased immediately, but it was decided by those in charge of the raft, who included Mr W. H. Morris, to endeavour to return the structure to the southern side of the river for dismantling purposes. This course necessitated the carrying of a rope across the river. Mr Morris decided to accomplish this by swim ■ mi ng across tire stream with a rope attached to his body. He was successful in swimming' about half way across, but then he met with difficulty, and, notwithstanding a very gallant attempt al rescue by Mr E. M. McLeod, was caught by the current ami he disappeared from sight. Roth victims were popular members of this community. The late Christina Pool, who wis 13 years of. age, was a child beloved by all, and her early tragic demise has cast a gloom over the whole distinct. The sympathy of all will be extended to the bereaved family in their great loss. Words fail tp express the feelings of all in connection with the second tragedy. The late W. H. (Harry) Morris was a fine type of young manhood. He was 23 years of age, and was the second son of Mrs and Mrs I. B. Morris, of this district. He was born ;ii Karangahake, and had spent most of his life there. He was a young man who took a prominent part In all local affairs. At the time of his deith he occupied the chair of Noble Grand in the Loyal Karangahake Lodge, M.U., 1.0.0. F. He was also secretary of the Ohinemuri Acclimatisation Society, and was also a member of the local football, cricket, and tennis clubs. The’tragic ending of a good life cannot be more fittingly closed than with the words, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for h's friends.” The sympathy of all will be extended to NTr -and Mrs J. B. Morris and family in their great affliction, but they will certainly be comforted m the knowledge that their son died beloved and respected by all, in that ne died as he lived, in acting up to his ideal, "Deeds, not words.” THE INQUESTS. CHRISTINA CATHERINE POOL, The’inquests were held by Mr F. E. Flatt, coroner, at IJarangahake, on Saturday evening. .John Edmond Patton, her stepfather, identified the body of Christina Catherine Pool, and stated that she left home in good health on the morning of the accident. She was a healthy child. Edith Mary Tierney, a fellow scholar, who was with deceased at the time of the accident, said that, with Melva Rackham, they were proceeding home when the deceased went into the water near the stables. The deceased followed them, and again went into the water near the Catholic church. They called her back, and she came and remarked, "the water is lovely.” Site then wefit back and stood on a stone on the dry land close to the edge of the river. The bank gave way and she fell into the water. She then caught hold of a willpw branch with one hand, but her glasses fell off and she let go the willow te save them and was quickly carried away by the current. She looked at them and appeared to be blue in the face. The last they saw of her was when she was being carried away. When she fell in ,she had a school bag full of books, and wore a grey overcoat. The river was in flood, and before they left school the master warned them to keep away from the river. Rowena Melba Rackham, another, schoolmate who left with the deceased and previous witness gave evidence similar to that of the last witness. Helen Ruby May O’Neil, a girl who joined the party near the Catholic Church also gave evidence in Support of that given by the first witness. William Ernest Griffin, a labourer, gave evidence of finding the body near Turner’s Hill. The body was tightly wedged in with trees ami dehris.

The coroner deplored the death of the deceased, and appreciated the

assistance of the whole of the Karangahake residents in their efforts to discover the body as early as possible. The court extended its sympathy ti the parents in the loss of the chil l and the anguish caused by not finding the body for so long afterwards. The verdict was that deceased met iie>’ death by being accidentally drowned in the Ohinemuri River on April 7, 1924, the evidence making it clear that no blame was attachable to any one. WILLIAM HENRY MORRIS. Bennett John Morris identified the bodv as that of his brother. The deceased was 23 years of age, and a quarryman by occupation. He was always strong and active, and was considered to be a good swimmer. He had had no heart trouble. Richard W. R. Hungerford, one of the party that undertook dragging operations for the body of Christina Pool, said that he had known deceased for 18 years. He saw deceased on a raft with J. Whitting. After word had come that the body of the gir! had been found dragging operatings ceased. Deceased then wished to take the raft they were using to the opposite side of the river for dismantling purposes. With others he was holding ropes attached to the raft from the northern side of the river. The deceased and James Whitting endeavoured to pole the raft upstream to utilise the current in crossing, but were not successful. Deceasad got off the raft on the northern side of the river and tied a rope round himself and made an attempt to swim across- Mr Turnbull was paying away the rope while deceased was swimming in the river. Mr Turnbull handed the rope to witness when it was nearly paid away. At the end of the rope was a grappling iron. Deceased called out to let the rope go, and he let some more out. He then attempted. to throw the grappling iron on to the raft but missed and the iron fell into the water. The deceased was then close to the bank on the southern side of the river. Witness did not hear him say anything. The object deceased had after landing was to get a heavier rope across to tow the raft over. He had only a swimming costume on at the time, and was known to be a fair swimmer. A stron; current was running at that part of the river. Had the water been normal there would have been ample rope to reach across. When the rope was rally paid away McLeod had reached deceased on the southern side of the river, but the current was so strong that McLeod could not hold deceased, who then drifted downstream and sank in about eight or ten fet of water. From the opposite bank they could see deceased and MeLeo.l wore in trouble.

Thomas Turnbull, a labourer, who also assisted in the search, gave similar evidence to that of the premious witness. He and Whitting poled the raft down the river with a view to helping. It capsized, and they had difficulty 'in getting ashore themselves, and saw little of the actual fatality

E. McM. McLeod, another of the pasty, said that when deceased was about 76ft from the bank he appeared to be again in trouble. He called out to witness, who then swam out to him. H.’ go: deceased to put his hand oil his shoulder, and advised him ro steady himself. Witness was then forced under the water, and on coming to the surface found the rope round his neck. He freed himself and found that deceased had drifted downstream. He called out to deceased, who answered, "come back.” He went back and caught his hand. He was struggling and pulled witness under. Witness then got back into shallbw water. The deceased had drifted still further down-stream and further into the river. Witness made another attempt, but deceased struggled so much that he lost his hold and got into deep water. After that he could not lo- ate deceased. On the last occasion that he caught his hand deceased did not appear to have control of himself.

James Whitting, another of the search party, gave evidence in accoidance with that of previous witnesses. His m inion wa.s that it was not an unreai-enabie task for deceased to take the rope across the river, and in his opinion the drag was thrown out sufficiently to allow deceased enough slack rope to reach the shore. It. w(>uld be about 45 minutes before the body was recovered. Efforts to crea-c resporation were conducted for half an hour, but were of no avail. Deceased was a healthy specimen M nmnhoud.

Constable McClinchy, who was al s o assisting in the dragging operations with deceased and the others, said that when word • was received that I he body of the girl had been recovered he left for Mackaytown. Shortly af'er arriving there he received word that Morris had been drowned. He returned and assisted with the dragging operations for Morris. The body was r< covered, and after respirator-,• methods had failed Dr. Little, who was summoned, pronounced life extinct. The coroner, in summing up, extended the couit’s sympathy to the relatives of the deceased and commented favourably on the efforts made by the deceased and his mates to secure the body of the little girl. He also said it was apparent that the young man was held in very high es'eem by the people of the district, and it was very regrettable that h s life should be terminated in such a sm'den manner. He made favourable comment on the ’witness McLeod for making three attempts to save tha deceased in face of the fact that the river was still partly in flood and the current both swift and dangerous.

The verdict was that the deceased nmt his death by accidental drowning on April 12 while assisting the res>dnts of the town to recover the body of Christina Pool, the evidence showing that the deceased undertook a task beyond his powers of endurance. From the evidence it was quite clear tb:P no blame was attachable to anybody. THE FUNERALS. The interment of both bodies took place at the Paeroa Cemetery on Sunday afternoon In the presence of meS-

be’-s of both afflicted families, brethr:m of the Oddfellows Lodge, the pupils and teachers of the Karangahake 'chool, and a large concourse of people from all parts of the district. The funeral service was conducted by the Rev. F. B. Dobson, vicar, Paeroa. assisted by Mr J. W. T. Jone?, layreader. of Karangahake. Past Grand Bro. L. J. Nevin read the Oddfellows service at the graveside pl the late departed Brother.