LAND LEAGUERS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 4, Issue 1027, 20 March 1882, Page 2

LAND LEAGUERS.

; Gkeyjioutu, March 19 A Land League procession, 300 strong, paraded, tho town yesterday., FATAL BOAT ACCIDENT. GALLANT ATTEMPT AT RESCUE. . THREE DROWNED. LWEKCARGIIA. : , News was received, yesterday afternoon of a fatal accident in New River, a fow miles from town, rosulting in the loss of three lives. A party consisting of a young man named Henry Ackers, his sister agod 14, his brother aged 7, and a young man named Wm. Smith, went out in a sailing boat, Thoy intended to go to the Ferry, 2 or 3 miles distant, but had not gone far before the boat was caught in.a gust of wind and turned over, going down in 20 feet of water. As soon ut tho boat rose, H. Ackers, who is a good Bwlmmer, made for his sistnr and carried her to the boat, telling her to cling tp the maßt; he then did the same with his brother. Smith had hold of the boom, and the weight of the four caused the boat to go under again. At this point the accident was noticed from the shore, and a boat put off propelled by a boy named Colin Brown. H, Ackers took his brother and sister under each arm, and endeavored to keep afloat by treading water, but the wind rising made the water rough, and he overbalanced and sank, the ohildren going down under him. They slipped their hold, and and although Ackers dived after them he could not reach them, so regaining the surface he observed Smith 20 yards away, and told him to float on his baok, Smith replied " I can't." By this time young Brown's boat had reached Ackers,, who told him cover to mind him, but go on and save Smith, lie managed to get tho bow of the boat up to Smith when the latter Bank, and never rose again. Ackers was then pursuaded with great difficulty to enter the boat. The bodies of the girl and Smith were subsequently recovered.