THE WANGANUI FATALITY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10016, 12 April 1910, Page 6

THE WANGANUI FATALITY.

Ey Telegiaph—Press Association WANGANUI, April 11.

The police and parties have been engaged since daylight dragging the river for the bodies of the victims of •yesterday's drowning fatality, but so far none have been recoverd, and it is thought that most, if not all, the bodies nave been washed out to sea. There was an exceptionally strong outgoing current at the time of the accident, a strong wind was blowing and the river was choppy and rough lendering the passage across the river anything but a light task for a much better class of craft than a sixteen-foot flat-bottomed baat filled with people. The fact that the river was rough accounts* for the absence of other boats, which on fine days dot the river on Sundays between the town and the heads.

The accident occurred about midday, between the town and the entrance, which is always looked upon as a difficult place to negotiate for small boats when the wind is blowing, as tha wind and current generally erase a jobble. There are no- houses near either side of the riv2r, anl the accident was only seen by one or two, including Mr Anderson,'who had previously <ro<*sed the river and was standing on the sandhill watching party. He saw the boat upset, and his wife and family drowning, but was powerless to render assistance.; Most of the launches were engaged ap the river, and could not be obtained till late in the evenng, consequently there Was only a fisherman to render assistance.