THE PIPIRIKI TRAGEDY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 179, 16 December 1912, Page 6

THE PIPIRIKI TRAGEDY.

HOW THREE BATHERS PERTSHED. BRAVE SCHOOLMASTER'S FATE. Some fuller details are now available concerning the terrible fatality at Pipiriki last Monday af|)ernoon, as the result of which three lives ivere lost. The affair happened so quickly that there is little to be said about it. One moment three swimmers were splashing in the clear waters of the Wanganui river. Almost in the twinkling of an eye the swimmers had disappeared,' and tiio horrified spectators were franetically making search for the bodies. It appears that at about live o'clock 011 Monday afternoon, Mr. (lerald 11. Thomas, schoolmaster at Pipiriki, his son Raymond, and another boy named Arthur (.'lenience, son of the master of the native school, were bathing in the Wanganui river. Young Thomas suddenly got into difficulties, and C'lemence swam to his assistance. This piece of gallantry proved fatal, fur the drowning boy clutched his would-be preserver, and the pair went under. Thomas, who was swimming in the middle of the river, on noticing the predicament of the bovs. set oil' towards them. The exertion, however, exhausted him. and when he reached the boys they dragged him down, the three disappearing, and not being seen again. The accident was witnessed l)y a considerable number of people, including some American tourists. Efforts to recover the 'bodies were immediately made, a large number of men working till late at night. The searchers were successful in recovering the body of the unfortunate lad Clemencc. Work was recommenced at daybreak, and some time afterwards the body of Mr. Thomas was recovered. About 11 o'clock the searchers had the melancholy satisfaction of taking from the water the body of the little lad Thomas. An inquest was held in the afternoon, the witnesses including Dr. Natour, aa American lady doctor, who is touring New Zealand. A verdict of accidental death was returned. The tragedy lias caused the greatest gloom in Pipiriki, the victims being extremely well known. Mr. Thomas was for many years a schoolmaster, then he took up farming in the Colyton district, where he resided for a couple of years, eventually selling his farm and returning to the schoolhousc. He had been stationed, in Pipiriki for about 12 mouths. Mr. Clemence had been master of the native school at Pipiriki for the last live years, and his son Arthur was very popular.