The Late Fatal Accident in the

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume X, Issue 38, 13 February 1875, Page 2

The Late Fatal Accident in the

RANGiTATA.—ihe Timaru Herald of February 5 says :— About noon yeßterday, telegrams were received at. Timaru to the effect that n geutleman aud two ladies had been drowned at the lower fairy of the Raogitaln, A paiuful impression hod already become prevalent, which afterwards increased to a certainty, that the persona drowned were Mr J. F. L. Hunt, head master of the Timaru Public school,, Mrs Hunt *and Mrs Cunningham, Mrs Hunt's mother. It was known that Mr Hunt had left Timaru very early in the morning, in a buggy from Mr Martelli's stables, with his wife and mother-in-law, intending to take the latter to the Astabuijilbn railway station, and return with' Mrs Hunt to Timaru at night. We learn from our correspondent at Temuka that at about one o'clock n man named Ragg, one of Mr Coppin'a banda, at the lower Rangitata ferry, arrived in Temuka, and gave information to the police of a s^d accident which terminated fatally in the Raugitata. Ragg stated as folrowa: — "This morning a signal wao rtlade at the Rangioata for assistance, I came across the river and found a gentleman and two ladies in a buggy by the river eide. The gentleman grumbled at my being bo long coming. The ladies asked me if I thought the things in the buggy would get wet. I replied that I did not, as the river was not high, the water only bein«? up to the horße's belly. We then started to cross, I leading the way. Nearly mid-slrenm the buggy was slightly drifting down Htream, when I turned back iutending to lead the horses, when the gentleman sang out to me fo lead the way, and he would follow. On proceediog a little further I heard a noise, aud on turning round I saw the buggy capsized, and fahe occupants all in the stream. I hastened back and caught hold of the elderly lady Vs soon as possible, and brought her pit, but she waa dead. I then weut back to* the gentleman, who was standing up to his \v Q i t3 l in the water, and told him t6 tike hold cf the stirrup nnd I would take him out. Hb then took hold of tjiie stirrup and the horse's raune, but" before we had gone very far he let go his hold and disappeared, and neither he nor the youug lady had beenseen before I left. On arriving at Wads worth's, I was informed that they had breakfasted there. A buggy and gentleman, and two ladies went through Ternuka this morning at about half- past six/ Mrs Cunningham was found drowned on the same day, some time after the accident. Mr Hunt, was picked up to-day, six miles below the ferry. The accident has created a great eensation here. (/•'or retnaindei of News see fourth page.)