SHOCKING BOATING FATALITY. Two Young Men Browred.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 320, 28 November 1888, Page 4

SHOCKING BOATING FATALITY. Two Young Men Browred.

A tmiribli: boating fatality occurred near the Glebe Island shortly after six o'clock this, morning. The occurrence does not appear to have been witnessed by many persons, and the particulars of the accident could only be obtained fiom the only survivor of the catastrophe — a young girl of IS summers. It seems that at about 6 o'clock this morning 1 , two young men named Thomas XetbleLon, residing at White Bay, Balmain, and Thomas Bradsley, residing in Prosper-street, Balmain, in company with a young girl named Clara Holmes (Nettleton's liancee) hired an open boat from a Mr Steel, boat-builder, of White Bay, with a view of rowing down to one of the amusement places in the harbour. They proceeded along Johnson's Bay, the two joung men pulling, the girl being seated in the stern. When in close proximity to Glebe Island Bridge, a steam launch named the Essex was observed to be bearing down upon them. Closer came the vessel, and the small boat's cvew, observing that they weie in danger, attempted to cross the bows of the launch, and in doing j?o a collision occurred. The occupancs of the boats wore thrown into the water, the boat itself being smashed. A person named William Burns, residing in Man&el-street, Balmain, happened to be crossing the bridge at the time, and, on seeing the three persons struggling in the water, with commendable courage, and without waiting to divest himself oi any clothing, actually jumped from the bridge to the water below, a distance of fully 25 feet. He succeeded in rescuing tho girl, but the unfortunate young men sank before any assistance could be rendered them. Buujs managed to get the drowning girl ashore, but it io not known whether the Essex's crew attempted to render any assistance or not.