SUPPOSED DROWNING CASE

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3567, 22 July 1890, Page 2

SUPPOSED DROWNING CASE

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From Our Own Correspondent),

Eketahuna, July 20. It was reported here this morning (Sunday), that a young -man named Isaac Priest, 26 years of age, had been missing since Friday last, From particulars to* hand, it appears that the man, who resided at' the back of Parkvillo with his two brothers, had come to Eketahuna on Friday for stores, with one ,'paok horse. On returning he hadtocross»the Deep Creek. The theory is that the horse foil in crossing the oreek, that the missing man ' went after it, and having canglnt it, unloaded and carried the goods to the bank, The goods he stacked and covered with a sack at a point about 200 yards below the crossing. It is evident that as ho could not get up tbe bank at this point he made an effort to mount the horse and return to the crossing. Between the place where lie stacked the goods and the crossing thore is a deep hole, and it is thought he may have fallen into it.

The horse was found on Saturday on the track leading to his home, with tho bridle '■ caught in a branch; Mr A Hambrook, who found the horse, let it loose, when it started for home, On the arrival of the horse, one oi Priest's brother's immediately came to the conclusion that something was wrong, as the saddle was wet, and the pack straps had been placed on the hooks of the saddle to use as stirrup straps. On Friday the weather was fine and the creek quite safe to cross, but since then there has been one continuous rain, the consequence being that the creek is in a higli flood, This morning, (Sunday), although the.weather was very inclement, search parties went out. Oue party, consisting of Messrs Ashmore, Hodges, and two boys, commenced the search from the junction of the creek with the Makakihi and'followed it up to meet tbe other party, headed by Constable Eoache, who started the search from the crossing downwards, but without success. It was decided then that as the creek was so high and the water muddy it would be better to wait for it to clear. However, as the weather olearcd up a little at 2 p.m. a party under Constable Boache started out for a further search, This party returned at 7 p.m., but reported no traces of the missing man; It is quite evident the weather will •have to oloar up before anything can be done. The oreek is full of snags and it is thought the body may have got under one of them. If that is so, nothing can be done till the water in the creek clears and subsides,