DEATH BY DROWNING.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 105, 12 February 1870, Page 6

DEATH BY DROWNING.

On Monday last an inquest was held before W. L. Simpson, Esq., Coroner, in the Masonic Hotel, Ross Place, Lawrence, on the body of Thomas Brunton, a boy aged thirteen years, who was drowned the previous day in Blundell's dam, Lancaster's Hill, Lawrence. It appesKsed, from the evidence, that the dd^^Tva&d, accompanied by five other boys, immediately after school hours on Sunday afternoon, proceeded to the -dam at the back of Lancaster's slaughteryard^for the jmr pose of bathing. Tins is a favmuite?lfc sort for boys for that purpose. Five ouyl of the six, including the deceased, bathed . on the occasion. They all went in toji gether, and as they were coming oufijP Brunton, who could not swim, said he would try how far he could go towards the deepest part of the dam, and had only advanced a few steps when he slipped into a hole, and commenced splashing with his hands. The other boys, who, by this time had reached the bank, at first thought deceased was playing with them ; but when they saw him disappear below tha surface, were aware of the danger he was in, and called out for assistance. One of the boys, in attempting to rescue him, got beyond liis depth, and had to make for the bank to save himself. Two boys then ran off to the nearest houses, Mr. Rae'3 and Mr. Bluudell's. Meanwhile, the deceased again came to the surface, and made towards the middle of the dam. The boys called to him to strike out tho other way, but the poor fellow didn't seem to hear them, or to understand what v/as said, as he made no effort to get to the bank. Before Mr. Blundell and Mr. Rae cotild reach the spot, deceased had sunk for the third time. Mr. Blundell at once stripped, and succeeded in getting the body out about two minutes after it sunk. Deceased was then wrapped in a blanket, and every means adopted to excite circulation until Dr. Stewart, who had been sent for, arrived. The doctor's evidence showed that when he reached the spot the body showed no sign of life, and was quite pulseless ; he, however, used every resuscitating remedy for at least half an hour, when he concluded that any further effort would be useless. After all the evidence was taken, the jury had no difficulty in agreeing upon the following verdict, which was announced by the foreman (Mr. A. Ferguson) — "Accidentally drowned."