WANGANUI CATASTROPHE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 361, 12 April 1910, Page 5

WANGANUI CATASTROPHE

MANY PEOPLE SEARCHING. NO MORE BODIES RECOVERED By Telegraph —Press Association. Wanganui, April 11. Police and parties iliave been engaged since daylight dragging the river for the bodies of yesterday's fatality, but so far none 'have been recovered. It is thought that most, if, not all, have been washed out to sea. There was an exceptionally strong outgoing current at the trme of the accident, a strong wind blowing, and the river was choppy and rough, rendering the pas'sage across the river anything but a light task for the better class of craft, much less for a sixteenfoot flat-bottomed boat filled with people. The fact that the river was rough accounts for the absence of other boats,! which on fine days dot the river on Sundays between the town and the Heads, I

The accident occurred about midday, between the town and the entrance, wliicli is always looked upon as n, drflicult place to negotiate with small boats when the wind is) blowing, as the wind and current generally cause a jobble.

There are no houses near either side of the river, and the accident was only seen by one or two, including Anderson, who had previously crossed the river, and was standing on a sandhill ■watching the boating party. He saw the boat upset, and ihis wife and family drowning, but was powerless' to render assistance.

Most of the launches were engaged tip the river, and couM not be obtained till late in the evening; consequently there were only fishermen to render assistance. SEARCH CONTINUES. Midnight. No more bodies of the victims of the Sunday drowning tragedy have been discovered, though dragging operations have been continued all day. (