Terrible Fatality.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 226, 3 September 1884, Page 2

Terrible Fatality.

TWO WOMEN DROWNED. [Per United Press Association.] Woodville, September 3. A terrible fatality occurred here last night, whereby two women were drowned. Rain fell yesterday, and all last night, in torrents, and as a result the Manawatu River rose with great rapidity. McKenzie, contractor for the Manawatu Railway and Traffic Bridge, four miles from here, lived in a house on a raised piece of ground on the bank of the river. Shortly after midnight he found the house being surrounded by water, and got a raft made for the purpose of getting people away from the house. Shortly after three o’clock the first attempt was made, the raft being occupied by Mrs. McKenzie and son, Mrs. Teasty and husband, and a man named McMullan. When crossing, however, it struck a snag-and was capsized, all the occupants getting safely on board again, but the steering pole was lost, and the raft was swept again into the surging current of the main stream. The raft again struck a snag and capsized, the three men somehow got ashore and were picked up insensible, but the two women were drowned and there seems little hope of ever recovering the bodies. Mrs. McKenzie has been living in Dunedin, and only came to Woodville on Monday last. McKenzie has lost a great quantity of timber, and sinking machinery has been submerged. Traffic is stopped at Gore and Masterton Ferry. The main road to Masterton is under water for nearly a mile. No loss of stock is yet reported.