DROWNING OF THREE CHILDREN AT COOKTOWN.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2088, 1 December 1879, Page 2

DROWNING OF THREE CHILDREN AT COOKTOWN.

(FROM THE COOKTOWN HERALD, OCT. 22.)

A sad mishap transpired at Finch’s Bay on Sunday morning last, by which three little girls the respective daughters of Messrs Chinn and ‘ Shambrook, of this town.and Mr Patching of Maytown, met with their deaths. News of the occurrence was brought into town at about 8 o’clock in the morning by a lad named Thomas Stack. The sad event, as related by Joseph Shambrock, a lad 12 years of age, is as follows: —A number of children went out to bathe at Finch’s Bay shortly after G o’clock in the morning. They had been some time in the water, and were about to take a dip before coming out. To do this they ran to meet the waves, and holding “hand in hand” sat down to allow the waves to wash over them. While sitting down an unusually large wave came in, and before the lad knew where he was going he found himself in deep water, and a strong drawback running. Though only a little fellow he is a good swimmer, and hearing his eldest sister call out for help he swam to her assistance. After great exertion he managed to get her to the shore, and then seeing the lad Stack on the beach, called to him for help. He then saw Annie Clunn floating in the water, and dashed in to bring her out. When returning to the shore he was quite exhausted, but Stack came up in time to take the girl, and both got ashore. His eldest sister then occupied his time, as he had to hold her back from the water,and Stack swam out to look for the other girls. He first found Lillie Patching, and brought her ashore, then went in and brought out Jessie Clunn. Both were dead, and he laid them on the beach and went in for the others. He brought out the eldest of Mr Clunn’s girls, and thinking she was dead, also laid her down. A search was then made for Mary Ann Shambrook,but Stack could not find her, and then ran into town to inform the parents of the children of the occurrence. Stack, on coming into town, found Dr. Korteum from home, and Mr Irmin, chemist, was called upon to go out to the beach. Stack, meanwhile, jumped on a horse and took out a roll of blankets to the bay for the children, and on arriving there found a large number of persons who had gore out to render what assistance they could. By this time it was evident that Jessie Clunn aged 7 years, Mary Ann Shambrook, aged 10 years, and Lillie Patching, aged 8 years, wore beyond re. covery.