DROWNED IN DAM

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 25, 21 April 1927, Page 1

DROWNED IN DAM

the BURNSIDE TRAGEDY FRANTIC RESCUE ATTEMPTS SIX IN WATER (Special to THE SUE.) DUNEDIN, Wednesday. Two boys, James and Alfred Duncan, fearful and frantic over their brother falling into the freezing-works dam at Burnside on Tuesday afternoon, fell from the wall into the water, on top of their brother and a boy who had dived to his aid. The two boys, James and Alfred, were drowned. Another brother also fell into the dam, but he was rescued. The tragic story made known at the inquest shows that the four Duncan boys, sons of Mr. W. Duncan (ex-All Black forward) went with another bov to the dam, where James Fell, 12 "ears old, was sailing on a two-board raft, watched from the bank by James Mehalski, aged 14. The youngest of the Duncan lads fell into the water Mehalski plunged in, and brought him to the wah, whose steepness, however, prevented him from being lifted out. The other three Duncans leaned over the wall to help, and all fell in, so that Mehalski was almost drowned, as they all held on to him, and drew him under the water. Fell hurriedly paddled his raft to the wall, and pulled one of the Duncans aboard, but fell in himself.

He swam ashore, and with the aid of a stick pulled Mehalski from the water, also one of the Duncans. Fell and Mehalski ran to the freezing works for help, and Albert Edmund, one of the employees, raced to the dam, and, diving in, rescued the youngest Duncan, who was completely exhausted. At the inquest, evidence was given by James Mehalski and by the works employees, who gave evidence of the recovery of the bodies and the rescue of one of three boys struggling in the water. The coroner, Mr. J. R. Bartholomew, S.M., said it was a very sad fatality. The evidence of the boys showed that everything had been done to help the victims, and the bovs were deservinn of commendation. It occurred to him that the dam was in the nature of a trap for boys, and the evidence showed that it was a dangerous place. That was a matter about which he would make some recommendation to the management. The dam was just the sort of place which boys would frequent, thus running a serious risk. A verdict that death was due to accidental drowning was returned.