Accident at the Pohangina River.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 6713, 4 June 1900, Page 2

Accident at the Pohangina River.

Yesterday a large search party, consisting of U.F.C.A. employees, under the direction of Constables Breen, Franklin and Lander, went out to the Pohangina River for the purpose of dragging the stream and making a thorough search for the missing man Fabling, whose supposed drowning was reported by us on Saturday. In addition to dragging the river Mr Cavill dived into the water in several places where the body was likely to be caught, but nothing of any importance was seen, owing to the muddy state of the water, only a few sacks being recovered by the drags. Since Saturday more complete details of the accident have been obtained, which clear away all doubts as to Mr Fabling's fate, for it now appears that a settler named Harry Fitzsimmons, saw the whole accident, or at least as much ofi t as the darkness would permit. According to Mr Fitzsimmons' statement, he was approaching the crossing some little distance behind the U.F.C.A. waggon, and he saw Fabling enter the river. By the time Mr Fitzsimmons reached the ford, the waggon was well into the stream, and it was at once cvident that the driver was in difficulties, for his leaders had turned round, and no effort on the part of Mr Fabling could get them back. As the horses had got beyond control, and as there was a danger of the waggon overturning, Mr Fitzsimmons advised Fabling to cut the leaders loose, and to get ashore. Fabling replied that he could not swim a stroke, and it was at this time that Mr Lynch proceeded to get the rope to throw to him. In the meantime Fabling proceeded to cut the leaders clear, and for this purpose he seems to have got down into the water. He had evidently partially succeeded in the work of releasing the horses, for some of the harness has been found cut, when Mr Fitzsimmons heard a cry " Oh," and then there was nothing more but the rushing of the water. A few minutes before this, the lights of the waggon had gone out, so that what actually happened could not be seen from the shore. Whether he was kicked by one of the horses, or whether he lost his footing can only be a matter of conjecture. Mr Fabling at the time was clothed in a heavy overcoat aud a suit of "overalls,'' so that he would have but little I chance of battling successfully with the strong current which was then running, although the river was much higher at a later hour of the night when several other travellers crossed it in safety. The remainder of the horses appear to have got clear through the traces and harness straps being cut, and doubtless afterwards extricated themselves from the harness. The waggon drifted down the river for some half a mile and was finally caught on a spit formed by the dividing of the river into two streams. The search party is again at work on the banks of the river to-day.