TRAGIC DEATH.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 289, 11 August 1888, Page 3

TRAGIC DEATH.

HUSBAND AND WIFE DROWNED. Very deplorable intelligence has i*eached Suva irom Ba, Air Alexander Gray and his wife having come to an untimely end by di owning. The particulars oi" the occurrence appear to be that Mr Gray left the Rarawai Mill at about 5 p.m. on Monday , 16th July, and, about half an hour later, went out with his wite, duck shootiug. Shortly afterwards two shots were heard, aud it is supposed from the surrounding citcumstances that they anchored their boat at a small inland about a quarter of a mile above Vunisamaloa, and walked to the upper end to a clump of trees from which Mr Gray fired. That, having only wounded the ducks, he took oft his boots and socks — which were subsequently found at the upper end of the island — and waded in to secure the birds, and that, by so doing, he got out of his depth. Mrs Gray must have taken the gun and cartridges and followed her husband down the island, as gun and ammunition were found at its lower end. It is conceived that, perceiving that her husband could not get on shore, and recognising the peril he was in, Mrs Gray, who was a remarkably good swimmer, must have gone to his assistance, and that she was dragged down by Mr Gray in his struggles. Being fully dressed, she was unable to rise, and the two met their death together. Nothing was known of the occurrence until about ten o'clock the next morning when the servant came down for the milk and reported the absence of his master and mistress. A search was immediately instituted : and, with the assistance of a number of Fijinns, the bodies wei c found in about twenty feet of water clasped in each other's arms. The sad occurrence cast a gloom over the di&tiiet where the unfortunate couple were well-known and esteomed. MiGray was about twenty-seven yea<s of age ; his wife, twenty one. They were married only in February last.