A Sad Drowning Fatality.

Kaikoura Star, 9 October 1906, Page 5

A Sad Drowning Fatality.

TEN LIVES LOST. ! F.o n our Special Correspondent). Blenheim, Oct. <B. A dreadful tragedy happened on the Opawa River in the town on Sunday afternoon, about live o elock, when a parly ot ihir!” e. 1 ii'r-loii i>ls were ret it ruing on ? . small oil launch Maritaua Iri;.., tiie Wairau bar. The vessel struck a concealed snag mar the Wharves and almost overturned and the railinv on the port side snapped, precipitating about twenty people into the river. Ten pci sons were drowned including Airs Edward Bald win, aged about 50 years, no children ; Herbert Oswald Berry, about 32 years of age, who leaves a wife and three young children; Edward Nash, about 30 .years of age, plasterer, son of Sergt.-Major Nash, of the Victorian Police Force ; John Hynman, about 42 years, shearer, formerly of New South Wales; Airs James Jackson, about 35 years, leaves a husband and three or four young children : Ed ward Bald win, a bout 50 years, I husband of Mrs Baldwin ; Walter | John Parker, about 50 years, em--1 ployed at Air Holdcroft’s furniture ! manufactory, leaves a wife and grown up family at xMartin borough I (North Island); Westby Patchett, I nine or ten years of age, son of I Air George Patchett, owner of the launch ; also a boy, four or five years of age, son Mr Berry, one of the victims. It is supposed that several were drowned through others clinging to them. A large crowd watched the rescuing operations, which were I harrowing in the extreme. Bodies were, dragged for and recovered at intervals, eight having been recovered by ten o’clock last night ami one to-day. They have been taken to the Alailborough Hotelj where the inquest will be held to-i lorrow. The flreadful occurrence has profound edly shocked thejeommutflty. Tli., X—-L* it ;■ f* ras. ic'-i-ld ■■L is ] app vtlinL, as the weather was i calm ami the river is only about I twenty-five yards at the widest I point.