DROWNING ACCIDENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 199, 11 January 1913, Page 4

DROWNING ACCIDENTS.

A WANGAXUI VICTIM. SINKS IX VIEW OF THE CREW. Wahganui, January 9. Another sad drowning accident occurred to-day, the victim being Mr. John Brady, a well-known contractor and a member of a family that have been residents here for a great number of years. It appears that after spending the festive season at a family reunion, Mr. Brady left town by the s.s. Waimarie this morning for a job he was engaged on in the Ahuahu district. When approaching the Kaiwhakc pa, and opposite Mr. D. Ross's property, the captain of the steamer (Mr. K. Stewart) was informed that Mr. Brady had fallen overboard. lie at once stopped the Waimarie, which was travelling at full speed against a fast ; running tide, and turned round to pick the struggling man up. By the time this had been accomplished the unfortunate man had driited down stream about two hundred yards, and before the steamer could be got near him he sank in view of the horrified passengers and crew. The boat was at once launched, and canoes put off from the bank, .but nothing could be seen of Mr. Brady, and after a search of over -half an hour the steamer resumed her journey. Just how tue accident happened is at present unascertainable. The river is about twelve feet deep where the deceased disappeared. The steamer was ' taken up to Mr. Connor's residence at Raorikia, the nearest telephone to town, and the police and deceased's relatives were apprised of the fatality. This morning a launch containing two constables with dragging apparatus was dispatched to the scene of the accident to try to recover the 'body. > The late Mr. Brady was very well known in Wanganui, having spent all his life there.