Sad Drowning Case.

Patea Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 1014, 28 March 1883, Page 3

Sad Drowning Case.

■V-d LOSS OF CAPTAIN GIBBONS’ SON. [SPECIAL TO THE jMAIL.J, Auckland', This day. The body of , a boy naitned Ernest Gibbons, aged 6, who was drowned at Devonport bn Saturday was recovered on Monday. At the inquest the evidence showed that it was ebb tide at the time' and the current was setting put. Deceased could not - swifri and went into the water up to, the neck when; the tide took him on his feet and out of his depth. He made a great splash in the water but made no noise and finally sank. A lad named Holt seeing the accident while in the water with deceased, ran and told; some men; who,plunged in-, :bjUt failed to find the body, Capt. Gibbons stated’ th'at’his ’ son -was forbidden to bathe: without his permission, rbuf spinetimes; he got up early in the morning and: went / without leave. His 111011161- had, forbidden him to bathe that very morning he was drowned.' He' had himself taken, his son to bathe several, times, but not at the place where he was drowned.: The body was washed ashore at the place where it was seen to sink. Theplace was not considered dangerous, and he had seen hundreds of all ages bathing there. The jury returned a verdict “ Accidentally drowned while bathing,”; with a rider to the effect that “ Parents and guardians are warned against the* danger of allowing children to bathe without proper supervision.” Considerable sympathy is felt in Patea for Captain Gibbons in his bereavement. The deceased was a bright little fellow, and a great favourite with all who knew him.