TERRIBLE DROWNING FATALITY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 1060, 24 October 1911, Page 3

TERRIBLE DROWNING FATALITY.

EIGHT LIVES LOST.

The saddest and mos; tragic boating fatality which has yet been recorded on the Mnnawatu river took place atTe Wharaugi, the local seaside result, on Sunday last at about noon, when eight persons lost their lives through the upsetting of a flat- ho' to tried boat. Those drowned were :

Mrs Agnes Mead Grove, aged 35 years, wife of Mr h. M. Grove, motor expert, of Palmerston North.

Eugene Grove, aged 6 years

John ITardy Grove, aged 3 years. Miss Grace O’Sullivan, aged 22, daughter or Major J. O'Sullivan, of the Defence Department, Wellington. Miss Florence Arnold, aged 24, late of Nelsou.

Mrs Fanny Robert, aged 3S, wife of Mr Percy Robert, of Main Street, Palmerston North.

Leslie Robert, aged iS. Douglas Robert, aged 3

The other two occupants of the boat, Messrs P. Robert and E. N. Grove were rescued.

Mr Robert and family have a furnished cottage at the Beach and during the season they make a practice of spending the week ends at the seaside. They motored from Palmerston on Saturday afternoon and arrangements were made to go for a launch excursion on Sunday. Mr and Mrs Grove and family and Miss Arnold motored through early on Sunday morning and were to join them m the excursion, also Mr, Mrs and Miss Holben, who were at the Beach, had arranged to go with the party. The day, however, broke so rough that the Hold decided not to go. At this uni-. . ■ wind was blowing fairly strong and the water was exceedingly choppy. The launch which was to be used lor the excursion was anchored about 100 yards from the shore, and Mr C. Robert, son of P. Robert, and Mr C. Turner were already aboard.

To reach it the others set out in a flat bottomed boat, 18ft. long by 4ft. 6iu. beam. Ten got into the boat, and according to experienced watermen this number was too great, taking the weather conditions into account. At the very most, wdth an experienced boatmen, no more than eight should have been put into the boat. Mr Robert was of opinion that ten was too many, but Mr Grove thought as they had only a short distance to go it would be alright. Mr Robert did the pulling aud everything went right until they got from 15 to 20 yards from the launch when they struck rougher water and Mr Robert experienced great difficulty in keeping the oars in the rowlocks and eventually lost them altogether. MiGrove took the oars and in changing places with Mr Robert the boat got broadside on ami a heavysea swamped it, and the occupants were all thrown into the water. When the party set out for the launch Messrs Baugley and Young were on the shore and watched them pulling out. They noticed the boat appeared to be m difficulties aud immediately set out iu another flat bottomed boat to assist them. Before they could reach the spot, however, the catastrophe had occurial and the first knowledge they had of this was by coming on to the upturned boat, with Mr Robert hanging on to the painter. They pulled alongside aud Mr Rangley look hold of Mr Robert. He was too heavy to be lifted into the boat and Mr Bangley held his bead out of the water while Mr Young pulled for the other shore where they landed. By this time Mr Robert w r as unconscious, but after a few minutes the others brought him round. They then set out to endeavour to rescue others, but it was then too late. They recovered another body. Meanwhile. Messrs Mounsey aud Kirk had set out in another boat but all they could do was to recover three bodies.

When Mr Robert signalled the launch for help, the engine was immediately started and those on board succeeded in rescuing Mr Grove. Then Mr Chris Robert, who was on the launch, jumped into the water in an attempt to rescue his mother, whom he saw struggling some distance away. Owing to the fact that he is practically an invalid, however, he was not able to achieve his object, and he was taken with a seizure of the heart, and only pulled back on board again after some difficulty. Meantime Mr Grove and Mr C. E. Turner got the launch in hand, and moved to the scene of the accident, but were too late to be of any assistance. The tide was running nit strongly, and the bodies were carried down the river.

The bodies that were recovered had floated about half a mile from the scene of the catastrophe. Though none of the bodies sank and every effort was made to restore animation when the victims of the fatality' were brought ashore, it was without avail. Dr. Stockwell was on the beach about half an hour after the occurrence of the accident, while Dr. Maudl, of Eoxtou, was there an hour alter. Their services however, were of no avail.

Miss Arnold, who was in the employ of Messrs C, M. Ross and Co., had only been in Palmerston

AT THE MANAWATU HEADS.

FLAT BOTTOMED BOAT SWAMPED.

a month, having come from Spring Grove, Nelson, where her people are said to reside. It is interesting to note that Chris. Robert, who jumped into the water from the launch, in an attempt to rescue his mother, four years ago rescued a man from drowning iu the Maiuuvatu River.

The late Mrs Robert was a sister of Mr Clifford, an old and esteemed resident of Palmerston North, and came to the colonies twenty-five years ago. A message trom Nelson states that Miss Arnold was the second daughter of Mr W. Arnold, ol Spring Grove, Nelson. Mrs Grove was the daughter of Mr John Mead, of Wariti, Nelson, and Miss Arnold was her great friend for many years.

The bodies of Miss O’Sullivan aud Mr Roberts' two sons are still missing. Dragging operations were carried out uu Sunday afteruoou, and yesterday the river was again dragged, and the sea beach searched for three miles on the south side aud five miles ou the north side without result.

Sub-Inspector Norwood remained at the Beach last night and returned to Palmerston this morning. Constable Sweeney is still at the Beach supervising the searching and dragging operations.

The Mayor of Palmerston yesterday afternoon received the following telegram from His Excellency the Governor ; ‘‘ Please convey my sympathetic condolences to the families who have suffered sad bereavement by terrible disaster at Foxtou Heads. — Islington.”

The Mayor yesterday transmitted the following telegram to Mr Robert ;

“ We mourn with you, and ail bereaved ones in this your time of great sorrow.—Stii.ks, Mayor, P'oxton.” The Mayor has received the following telegram from Mr W. Murdoch, of Shannon ; “ All Shannon mourns the sad calamity.” Mr Heimessy, Chairman ol the P'oxton Harbour Board, to-day received a telegram from Mr W. H. Field, M.P. expressing regtet at the deplorable accident that occurred at the Beach on Sunday. The bodies that have been ve covered were yesterday conveyed to Palmerston North. The funeral will take place to morrow. THE INQUEST. An inquest on the bodies was held at the Beach yesterday by Mr All. Eraser, district coroner, when the following evidence was taken ;

James Senior, fisherman, residing at the Manawatu Heads, gave evidence as to the identification ol the bodies. He said he last, saw' them alive on Sunday morning. Was not present when the bodies w'ere recovered, but afterwards assisted others ni an endeavour to resuscitate them but without success.

George J. Langley, of the Manawalu Heads, caterer, in evidence stated that on Sunday morning he saw Mr Robeit and party—ten in all —setting out in a Hat-bottomed punt for a launch which was anchored about 100 yards from tbe shore. The boat they were in was Gift long by 4U din beam. Mr Robert was rowing. They missed the launch and as there was a strong run out, commenced to drift down the river. Witness saw Mr Robert wave to the launch and he then said to W. Young, who was standing alongside, "There is going to be trouble there; we had better get oil to them." They ran and secured a Oat-bottomed boat and rowed towards the other boat, which was then from 300 to 400 yards away. The first intimation they got that the boat had capsized was seeing the upturned boat, with Mr Robert hanging on to the painter, with his head under water and feet floating. They pulled up alongside of him and witness got hold of him by the coat collar. Witness could nor get him into the boat as he was too heavy and the boat was leaking. Got his arms over the gunwale of the boat and held him there whilst W. Young pulled for the south side of the river, which was closer. When they landed, Mr Robert was thoroughly exhausted and they carried him up on to the dry saud, aud set about to restore him. They got him round after a few minutes aud he then asked about his wire and children. They carried him up on ; to a hill and !e;c him and pulled down the river in an endeavour to rescue others. They afterwards picked up the body of a little boy, which was floating, and brought it to the north shore, where, with the as-

sistauce of others, they tried to restore him but without success.

To the Police : When they came across Mr Robert they did not see any signs of the others. The boat would be about 600 yards from the launch when it capsized. John Mounsey, auctioneer, of Palmerston North, stated that he came along the foreshore about ic o'clock and saw the boat going out to the launch. The boat missed the launch and the current carried it down river. Witness, who was accompanied by Mr W. Kirk, saw that those on the river were in trouble and they set out in another flat-bottomed boat as

quickly ns possible to assist them. By this time the lauuch had cast its mooring and was going to the assistance of those in the boat. They pulled down the river and then saw the lauuch coming towards them. Witness said to Mr Kirk, “I think we are too late.” They saw what appeared to be a coat floating in the water and on getting up to it found it to be a body. They got it on to the boat and afterwards picked up two other bodies. They then pulled down the river and hailed the launch and transferred the bodies to it.

To the Police : Efforts to resuscitate were tried wheu the bodies were brought ashore, but without avail. The bodies recovered were: Mrs Robert, Mrs Grove and oue of Mrs Grove's children. The bodies drifted about half a mile from the scene of the accident. When the boat set out for the launch it was heavily laden. William Kirk, dairy eugiueer, ol Palmerston North, corroborated the previous witness’ evidence and stated in reply to the police that iu calm weather he had had as mauy as 15 iu a boat of a similar size to the oue used by Mr Robert. George Taugley, recalled, said the boat that was used by Mr Robert was his property. Taking the weather conditions into account teu was uot a safe uumber to take iu the boat. He considered that eight would have been a good load on the day. tie considered that the accident was caused through the boat missing the launch and getting carried into rough water. Eugene Nattrass Grove, motor engineer, of Palmerston North, deposed that he came to the Beach early ou Sunday morniug, aud betvveeu eleven aud twelve in company with Mr Robert and others, put off in a flat-bottomed boat to reach the launch, which was anchored in the river. There were ten of the parly. They had just started when Mr Robert said he thought there were too mauy in the boat, but witness said he thought it would be alright. Mr Robert repeated that he thought there were too mauy and witness then said, ‘‘Alright, we’ll turn hack, Mr Robert,” At that mom nt the current seemed to catch the boat and they lost control. Mr Robert lost the oars aud witness said he thought he could manage it better. He grabbed the oars as they drilled down and changed places with Mr Robert. They were then from 15 to 20 yards from the lauuch. Witness tried to pull the boat but could not make any headway. Whilst witness was attempting to replace the rowlocks the seas swamped the boat and it capsized. Witness caught hold of one of the ladies aud made a grab for the boat, but a sea smothered them aud they separated. When the water cleared, witness struck out for the lauuch aud eventually got aboard. He remembered nothing more until he heard Mr Turner say that Chris. Robert had jumped overboard to try and save his mother. Witness was unconscious for about teu minutes.

Crispamis Robert, coach trimmer, of Palmerston North, said he was on the launch when the boat left the shore. His father was pulling and when within about 20 yards ol the launch he saw Mr Grove lake the oars from his lather. Whilst his father and Mr Grove weie changing places the boat got broadside on and his father signalled for help and his mother called out. Witness at once started the engine and took the launch towards his father, who was in the water, hut found that Mr Langley had rescued him. They then went to the next one they could see, Mr Grove, and pulled him aboard. Witness asked Mr Grove to look after the engine and he, witness, jumped overboard to try and save his mother. On reaching her he found that on account ol the force of the current he could do nothing. He remembered uothiug more until he was on board the launch again.

This was ail the evidence aud the Coroner returned a verdict that the deceased came by their deaths by drowning in the Mauawatu River ou October 22nd, tyix, accidentally, by misadventure, aud I am of opinion that more care should be exercised in regulating the number of people to be carried in row boats.