Sad Drowning Accident.

Manawatu Herald, 14 February 1905, Page 2

Sad Drowning Accident.

DEATH OF TWO PROMISING LADS. Quite a gloom over-shadowed Foxton and district on Sunday morning last when it became known that Oscar Honore (aged 14), and Edward Staff (21), both sons of _ well-known and widely-respected residents of Boston, had met their death by drowning in the Ma.mwatu River. It appears the deceased, who were cousins, had been out rowing on Saturday afternoon, and afterwards ventured to have a bathe. The deceased, Honore, could not swim at all, whilst Staff was not a good swimmer. Hence, it is surmised they got out of their depth, and met a sad and untimely end. Their relatives felt alarmed at the bovs not returning home on Saturday night, and searched the river bank for traces of the lads, with the result that the boat and clothing of the deceased youths were discovered on the river bank opposite the Maori settlement on Sunday morning. The local police and willing helpers dragged the river with grappling irons, hooks and nets. Foot-prints on the beach gave willing-helpers a guide, and at 10 o’clock the body of young Honore was brought to the surface with a net. The search was continued for the other corpse all day, and in the afternoon the second victim was discovered by the aid of a line and a fish-hook. Both bodies were discovered in close proximity to one another, which probably proves that one seeing the other in difficulties advanced to his help, with fatal results. The bodies were taken to Laing’s Hotel to await the inquest. Much credit is due to the local Police for the’ cool manner in which they conducted the search, whilst thanks are also due to all who assisted, including Mr 0. Austin, for the use of his oil launch. Both ydung men were highly respected and milch sympathy will be expressed with their 1 Jlafdrits lit the loss ot two promising sons. The boy Honore was a valued sergeant of the local School Cadet Corps. He was a son of MfS Mdndrej of Norbiton Road. Edward Staff was a Soil of Mr J. J. Staff, also of Norbiton Road.

THE INQUEST. An inquest touching the sad event was held at the Courthouse yesterday morning, before Mr Alf. Fraser, (Coroner), and the following jury Messrs A. D. Clemett (foreman), W. Baker, R. Howard, )P. Hennessy and F. Dunn.

Dr Bennett gave evidence as to examining the bodies, which indicated death by drowning. The bodies were rigid, and life had been extinct for hours.

John James Staff, father of the deceased Staff, said : deceased on the Railway Station on Saturday last at about 2.40 p.m. They were asking about oars and rowlocks to go for a row ; that was the last I saw of them alive. As they did not turn up before dark, I thought they had gone to the mouth of the river. At daylight on Sunday morning I went down to the river with my eldest son. The same morning I went with Mr Nye and saw the boat and their clothes lying on the bank; the matter was then reported to the police. The bodies were dragged for. At the first or second draw they found Oscar Honore’s body; dragging was kept on for my son ; his body was found at 3 p.m. The boys have always been the best of friends. Bi the Coroner: Oscar Honore could not swim at all, and my son only a short distance. They had been talking of going bathing, and I told them I did not think it would be safe. If they had bathed a chain or two above where the boat was I should consider it a safe place. Henry Staff, carpenter, said : Last saw deceased about 2.40 p.m. on Saturday ; my brother suggested getting a boat to go for a bathe up the river; I refused to go; my brother and Oscar Honore went off up toward? Mr Robinsons; I thought they were going there for a boat; that is the last I saw of them alive; I was present when Oscar Honore was brought out of the water on Sunday morning at about 10 o’clock; was not present when my brother’s 'body was recovered ; saw it after it was brought on shore; it was in Laing’s Hotel; my brother was 21 years old on 27th April last. George Nye, settler, said: Both the deceased were my grandchildren; last saw them alive at about x p.m. on Saturday; after dark on that day I first thought there must be something wrong, as they did not get home; thought they must have got into the river; told my other grandson, Garnet Honore, brother of deceased, to enquire if they had borrowed a boat; he came back without news; at daylight on Sunday morning I sent Garnet Honore to make enquiries at the mouth of the river, as their aunt was living down there ; at half-past six I walked up to the point and saw the boat tied up at high water mark; tied right up on the point opposite where the bodies were recovered ; I examined the boat very carefully; Oscar’s hat was in the bottom of the boat with fishing tackle, oars, and rowlock; turned round and went up on the bank and found their clothes laying just as they stripped; the clothes were covered with dew; went back to the boat and tracked them down to the point; I left everything intact and reported the matter to Const. Lander ; went home and told the mother; after breakfast I went on to the river bank ; when I got there saw Mr Austin’s launch, several boats and men dragging for the bodies with the net; was present when the body of Oscar Honore was brought ashore ; the body was tied in a sheet and taken on to the bank for about half an hour, when it was taken back in the launch and put in the billiard-room at Laing’s Hotel ; was not present when the other body was recovered; Oscar Honore was 14 last December. Robert Taylor, laborer, said : About 12 o’clock on Sunday I was down the river; Went home and bad dinner,

and afterwards John Nicholas and myself got some hooks and engaged in dragging. After about ten minutes we hooked the body, took it ashore, and the police took charge of it. I live at the Maori Settlement; none of the Maoris saw deceased bathing there. High tide Saturday would be between 2 and 3 o’clock. Harry Watson, driver, said:—l did not know the deceased, only by sight. I last saw them on Saturday between 4 and 5 o’clock, when they came to me to hire a boat, which the;; ':nii they wanted for an hour. I gave them tbs oars and rowlocks, and told them when they came back to put them in the shed; I got home about 6 o’clock and looked in the shed ; I saw a pair of oars but no rowlocks: could not say whether they were the same oars I lent deceased or not; the father of deceased came to me at g o’clock and asked me if they had come back, as a pair of oars were in the shed; the boat was not returned to me.

By the Jury: lam not certain of the time they came for the boat; I pbarged them is which they paid. By the Coroner: I was not in Foxtofl yesterday. John Lander, Police Costable, said at about 8 a.m. on Sunday morning the occurrence was reported to him by Mr Nye ; shortly afterwards, proceeded with Constable Whitehouse and several others up the river bank, and at this first haul with the net the body df Oscar Honore was brought out of the water; this was about 10 o’clock, and about 3.30 p.m. the body of Edward Staff was brought out with a hook and line. Both bodies were taken to Laing’s Hotel, and examined by Dr Bennett. There were no marks of violence, and they were both naked. The Jury, after reviewing the evidence, found the following verdict: "That in view of the evidence ad* dneed, the jury are of opinion that the deceased Oscar Honore and Edward Staff were accidentally drowned while bathing in the Manawatu river between three and four o’clock on Saturday, nth Feb., 1905, and the jury are of opinion that it is quite time that facilities for bathing (particularly for boys and gif'? w bo cannot swim) should he provided, not only for the protection of life, but in ths interests of publi* health.”

THE FUNERAL. The funeral of the victims took place this morning at the Cemetery. The cortege was large and representative. Amongst those who took part - at , the funeral were the Foxton School Cadets, under Capt. Furrie, The boys, besides acting as pall-bearers, fired three volleys over the grave of the late Oscar Honore, to mark the esteem of a valued comrade. The Rev. Harris and Mr Hutchison conducted impressive burial services.