FATAL BOATING ACCIDENT.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1964, 2 November 1889, Page 3

FATAL BOATING ACCIDENT.

A telegram from Wentworth states that a terrible drowning fatality occurred near that place A man namsd Richard Gurney residing, jiere had been away for some months up the Darling and only returned on- Tuesday last. He was to have left again to-day for another trip, but yesterday decided to take his wife and children fdr a picnic down the Murray. A neighbor named Misking and four children arranged to accompany them, but at the last poment was hpable to’ go. Mr and Mrs GdraeyUnd4heicHphildren left home*about 12.30 yesterday. On reaching the old mission ‘Station, four miles below;' , the earth, which had been .undermined by the recent floads gave way, and, fell forward on to the boat in the bow, where three of the Children were : —Frederick, fourteen years ; Harry, nine years, and John, seven years. Gurney was amidships rowing, and Mrs Gurney sndAda (deven years), Lizzie (five years), Joseph, (t#o years [and eight months), and the baby (seven weeks old) were in .the stern. The mass of earth fell in the bow ef the beat, killing the three beys instantly, and .knocking the bottom clean through, also crushing Gurney’s back ■severely. All the -eurvivqrs were left Juggling in ’the water. *Tbe boys never; rpse. /Mrs gurney tried to save three of 'the children, but in trying to catch the; fourth the others slipped frem her hand: in 30ft of water, aho coaid not swim, and was kept afloat only by the buoyancy et her Clothes. The eddy of the current; , swept her ; against some roots,, and she saved herself, the children all having sunk j while she was straggling in the water.; Gurney, who was unable to move ©wing ; te his injuries, floated till the currant; landed him ia shallow water/ The girl: Ada caught a. pillov# on which the baby! bad -been Tying, and was carried a distance downstream, being swept into a billsbong, where she lodged, and afterwards came to the assistance of her-mother and father, Tsho were clinging to the roots of trees. The girl then gave the: alarna, bat news was not received here (ill 5 o clock —too; late to search for the bodies. The steamer Undaunted started with men and grappling irons early this morning to search, and John Egge, Chinese merchant, also sent his steamer, the Prince Alfred, with a number of old-boats and men on a similar mission. None of the bodies, however,- hare yet beep #overesv£.Qdrnoy, who is a very old resident of the district, is now in a precarious condition, and is not expected to live, _ and Mrs Gurney, naturally, is. in. a terrible state. The Mayor has wcjbfted Akind.messag® °f condolence with Mrs Gurney from Lord Carrington. The public' intend raising subscriptions in aid of the survivors. .A late telegram 'states' that the bodies of five of tfochildren have been recovered.