Drowning Accident at Otaki.

Manawatu Herald, 16 April 1898, Page 2

Drowning Accident at Otaki.

On Thursday a young man, Daniel Herlihy, was drowned in the Otaki river. The Mail says, it appears that deceased went out to the river, at the mouth of the Rangiuru Creek, about two o'clock for the purpose of exercising his horse, The Ranger, by giving it a swim. The animal wa3 fractious, and difficult to force into the water; the first time it was whipped in over the bank it made a bound and sprang out again ; Herlihy then forced it in again, but in doing so the horse plunged and unseated the rider, who was riding bareback. Deceased seeing a party of men in a trap near the swing bridge, called out loudly for assistance. Messrs Batten, Powell, D. Roxburgh sen., and T. King (who were in the trap) witnessed the occurrence, which was of only a moment's duration, and hurried to the rescue. They saw deceased sink, but when they arrived on the scene they could see no trace of him. Batten stripped off, and noticing some bubbles, dived into the river, but without success. A second effort also proved unsuccessful. The tide coming in made the water somewhat muddy, and prevented the distinguishing of any object. A messenger was dispatched to Mr Noble's house for a drag, with which the body was soon recovered, at about half-an-hour atter the accident occurred, the water having become much clearer meanwhile. The deceased, we are informed, was unable to swim.