THE DROWNING OF TWO SISTERS IN NEW SOUTH WALES.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1079, 6 March 1883, Page 3

THE DROWNING OF TWO SISTERS IN NEW SOUTH WALES.

As already briefly reported, a most distressing and lamentable occurrence took place at Ooogee Bay on Bth February, iu the viciniy of what is known as (he ladies’ bathing place Two sis era named Blanche Medley Viles and Ida Helena Viles, whose ages were 23 yens and 13 years respectively, and who were t ! o daughters of Mr John Viles, a resident of B tany street, Randwick, proceeded in com. piny with a Miss Lowe and some children who reside at Randwick to the ladies’ bathing place, between the hours of six and seven o’clock, in order to indulge in a bath. On reaching the spot the younger sister divested herself of her dotting and was standing on one of the rocks, being about to enter tbe water, when a heavy sea broke over her and washed her away. Her sister noticing her in such peril, and being excite i by the thought of her drowning, jumped into tho water after her, and attempted to rescue her. Another heavy sea at the time brote in, and both were washed away some distance from tbe shore, and no assistance being at band, they were drowned. Miss Lowe and her companion? on shore laised an alarm as speedily as possible, but on the arrival of assistance the bodies were not to be seen. They were lost sight of for some time, and when seen again they were being washed about in all directions in the Bay. Hews of the sad occurrence soon spre*d tboughout the surrounding neighborhood, and a.large number of people gathered »t the scene. Many offers were made to man a boat and proceed to recover the bodies notwithstanding that the sea was very rough ; but, as no boats were to be had at Google, the bodies had to remain iu the water until the arrival of a small boat, which had bsen sent for. This was obtained at Thompson’s Bay, and was at once manned by Sergeant Siraughan, Constable Rogers, and Mr Donnelly, a publican at Randwick. The body of the younger sister was recovered at about noon and was very shortly afterward* landed on the bsach. When near the shore the crew of the boat had a very narrow escape from being capsized. They got in amongst tbe breakers and it was thought at one time that they bad no possible chance of escape, but very fortunately the sid calamity was not added to by what might have resulted in another serious accident. After this rather risky trip it was not deemed advisable to venture out in the boat agn'n, and information was then conveyed into Sydney to tbe effect that the whaleboat of the Water Police was required in order that a search might be made for the other body. However, the pilot steamer Captain Cook was quickly despatched to the scene, but on arrival her services were not required, for in the meantime Sergeant Straughan, Senior-constable O’Flaherty, of the Water police, and three volunteers put off in the same boat to the spot where it was supposed the body was, and after a great deal of difficulty succeeded in recovering it and bringing it ashore. Tho deceased were at once removed to their parents’ residence. The elder sister had all her clothing on, and this of course had a good deal to do with her being kept under water. The bodies were in no way injured.