MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR AT LAKE WAKATIP

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 235, 5 September 1873, Page 5

MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR AT LAKE WAKATIP

On the 19th inst., two, men, namedJames "Ronnie and James , licidV.left/ Queenstown in a boat for the purpose of reiurning lo Mavora Station, where'-they were boon employed. Two days afterwards k was reported to the p'olice'-that Ecnnie ;had readied lhe\ siation a'lone, and;on board the steamer Antrim." : Ken- ' nie s'atc-d that when 'Keid- and -himself left Queeustown the}'- were -.both" the worse for- drink, and the boat was leaking very much. After proceeding about four .miles, iieid . proposed'' that they should open one of the two'bottles of brandy which they had'on board, llennie objected to .this was not touched. There was of water in the boat by this i-iine,/andi Heid took a bucket to bail-' her out.{THe I missed his balance while -doing soj and J" fell overboard". Jicimie.sueee'ded in ; get- -< ting ■ him aboard ; but as the 'b;ic'ke& had gone over with lieid ihey.. had' no" ; m>ans of bailing the water. Th\ n they resolved to run her ashore, in order to get' rid of !he wafer by capsizing -.her! .-' liennie states that when be jumped ashore, Eeid pushed Ibe-boar off afe once, and" pa.yir.jj no heed to liis remonstrances, headed up the lake. Kennie lost 'sight of tJieb r oat'and then tnado the best of his way out uf f/ e'lrash.- - Alter wandering t abbul\"lbi;" some .iine- lie discovered, u .deserted' ten'l at (lie**-' Seven •Mi]e iJcaclt, in'which he'-sleprfwv.ijhe remainder oi' the night,. K lie thenr-returned to QueensLo'wu just iu : ii,me_- to/ catch" the s learner Antrim. . Diligent has been made for the missing no trace of him has b<-eu discovered.'?' The mnst. and sail at' .the boat were packed ~up on"' the 21st inst.. between , Q'u.eenst"*wn and Kingston. . lieid is a single iriari, and is said to be a cousin of Mr. JohnVKeidj. late of Dunedfn.—.VVVakatip Mail,'.- ■