DISTRESSING FATALITY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10265, 17 June 1911, Page 5

DISTRESSING FATALITY.

AT MOUNT BRUCE.

BOY'S SKULL FRACTURED

A distressing fatality occurred at Mount Bruce, a few miles to tihe north of Masterton, about noon on Friday. Two boy® named Sidney Bertram Johansen. (aged twelve), and Frederick Johansen (aged thirteen), sons of Mr John F. Johanseny a. Mount Bruce ' settler, left their..home about eleven o'clock to gather bones in a paddock on the | bank of the Ruamahanga river. Af- ! tea* proceeding along . 'tihe bank of i the river for some distance tihey came to a precipice. Tihe younger boy (Sydney) ventured upon the branch, of a tree which, hung over the precipice, and the branch breaking, he fell to the bottom, a depth of about 100£t. Has body struck a led go and rolled into tihe river. The elder brother alarmed his father, and a search party was soon set upAbout four o'clock in the afternoon, I the body was recovered by Messrs 1 Ronald Burrell and Emibatrt Johan- | se«n in eight feet of water about 100 x yards down the river from the scene of the accident. The unfortunate boy must have been, killed instan- ' taneously, as tihe baise of Ms skull : was badly fractured, and his body was covered in bruises. The jnatter i lias been reported to the District Coroner, and an inquest will proI bably be held to-day. The parents 1 of the lad. will have the sincere symi pathy .of a large number of friends jin their sad and sudden bereave- • ment.