DROWNING FATALITY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1798, 7 March 1918, Page 3

DROWNING FATALITY.

A sad drowning fatality occurred on Tuesday night, by which Mr William Hamer, aged 28 years, son of H • d Mrs W. Hamer, well-known ■e ■ -peeled local citizens, lost his It appears that the young man j ,ue night in question was anxi- . s for the safety of his motor lam■")> which was moored in the rh r, near the wharf, by reason of a >od coming down. Accompanied by a companion, Mr McPherson, he went to the launch at about 10.30 p.m. His companion remained on the launch, and Mr Hamer got in the dinghey with the object of picking up an anchor attached to the launch by a rope. He caught hold of the rope, and followed it in the dinghey, and was in the act of pulling the anchor up, when the current turned and capsized I lie boat, precipitating the young man into the water. McPherson saw, or heard, the boat capsize, but did not hear any cry from his companion, who was not again seen. Owing to the darkness and the strong current of the Hooded river, and the loss of the dinghy, McPherson was unable to ren-

dor assistance. He called for help, and Mr IV. Andresen rowed to the scene of the mishap, and a careful search-was made in the vicinity, but without discovering the body. The strong current and flooded state of the river made dragging operations very difficult, Imt all attempts to recover the body have so far been unsuccessful. The unfortunate young man had been turned down for military service on account of heart trouble, and it is thought that possibly a heart seizure took place when the boat was capsized, otherwise he would have been able to pull himself aboard the launch by the rope which he was-handling. We arc in•rripd that he was unable to swim, deepest sympathy is felt for ■caved parents in the irreloss they have sustained, cased, although of a retirisition, was well liked by all vv him. He was a clever •ian, and supervised the ok al side of his father’s pici ij.smess, and was, in fact, his i r’s right hand man. The other Harold, is serving his country at . »e front.