DISTRESSING DROWNING FATALITY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10015, 11 April 1910, Page 5

DISTRESSING DROWNING FATALITY.

EIGHT LIVES L'JST. By Telegraph—Press Association. WANGANUI, April 10. A distressing drowning; accident occurred at Castleelitf about noon today, whereby eight lives v?ere lost, the drowned being members of tv.o families na;;;ed Ludlam and Anderson. A number of res'denta had arranged a picnic on the south spit, and a flat bottomed boat was used to ferry the picnickers across. The first trip I was safely accomplished, and the boat left again with te.i occupants, All went well until the middle of the river wa3 reached, when the strong tide and swell from the s a made a nasty jobble. An attempt was made to turn back, but when the boat was broadisde on it capsized, ail the occupants being precipitated into the water. A fisherman on the south spit noticed the catastrophe, and put off to rescue them. He managed to save-* two boys, and then saw the body of a woman. This proved to be Mrs Ludlam, tightly clamping one of her little c ildren. Both were dead. The alalia was then given, but owing to the rough stata of *he river dragging could not be carried out. It is expectei that the bodies will be i taken out to sta and washed ashore I along the beach. I

A large party of police and residents are searching. So far as can be ascertained at present those drowned are Mrs Ludlam, wife of Walter Ludlam, butcher at Castlecliff. and three children, two being sons aged 18 and 20 years, Mrs Anderson, wife of George Anderson, working foreman at the Harbour works, and four children. Included in these are Maud and Mary, aged 16 and 18, respectively. One Anderson and one Ludlam were saved. Both families were well known at Castlecliff, and the township has been plunged in gloom.

LATER. One body has just been recovered.