THE DROWNING CASE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XIII, Issue 4069, 22 March 1892, Page 3

THE DROWNING CASE.

SearoU for tlio Body(From Our Own Correspondent.) ■ Morrison's Bosh, Monday, Of coarse it is now known far and wide the sad fate by drowning of young Perkins just on the eve of bis 21st birthdjiy in the Koamahunga river, in attempting to cross at a ford going from Mr Morrison's to Mr Burt's mill, Your contemporary, the Standard, with commendable promptitude, published an extra giving full particulars of this sad affair up till Saturday evening. I purpose in these few notes to give a resume of to-day, (Sunday's) proceedings, it an early hour this morning search parties were oi't closely inspecting', both banks of the river for a long distance down, whilst other willing hands manned four boats with grappling hooks to drag tho river in any places where it Was by nny possible means thought the body might have rested.or got caught. Owing to the discoloured state of the river, however, they were labouring under great difficulties, more espech ally aa the rirer is very deep in the , locality it was thought he would most B". likely be found. As I before remarked the Bcaroh parties'started at an early hour and continued with unremitting perseveranoe till dusk, but unfortunately up'till this evening with no encouraging results, In the midst of tlie gloom there was at least a silver lining to the (lark cloud in the large numbers that congregated, all of whom were flilling.to take to the boata to prosecute a diligent search, .to restore if possible the remains of the eldest and beloved son to the bereaved parents, Whore'thero were BO many willing bands it is! perhaps almost invidious to particularise, but certainly the following aro'deeerving of special mention, and many others doubtless were there who did not come under my notice, or if they did I unfortunately did not knew them. Those I have omitted will I hope ..kindly accept this explanation, O'ertainly all will bear me out in flaying . that it would impossible to speak too highly of Mr and Mrs Hugh Morrison. I saw this gentleman for hours over ' ' his waist in water, graßping the snags withhlß hands, and probing with his bare feet under- any likely obstruction the body might rest." Then with commendable forethought, after changing his wet clothesy he.: brought from Mb private cellar spirits of various kinds, which he distributed amongst' those engaged in the. searoh _ with boats, most o f -whom were very wet, But this was not all. About ■ one o'clock, who should appear ■'bn • the scene, likea ministering angel, but •Mrs Hugh Morrison, who, assisted 'by hf-r younger sister and ■ Misß'Kato Cross, administered to the waritß of ; the ihnerman, with an excellent cup of- tea and light refreshments., She parties or groups of persons wi« dto

ttibuted over a raik'ofLoulderbtocli, and must .have miimbered fully a hundred pernons, but none were forgotten an these iyoung . ladies, asl- - by Mr A Mitoher, and one or other gallants/ 'diligently carried 'their (lets liope)nover-to-be-forgptten kindi lieas. Another jieMi who deserved sppoiaVpraineisMr Uoliißr, of Papawai, who, like Mr Morrison, whs up to his waist in water for several hours f'ollowiug the sums traok us the former gentleman, and afterwards had to ride about ten miles to bis home in his wet clothes. Prominent amongst others who look an active part in boats were Misses Thompson (2) and Messrs Buroh, J, Mitoher, : A. Mitoher, 0. Peterson, H, Hodge, T, Ingley, D, Cross, A. Kempton, E, Hawkins, Coleman, 1 R, Bright, Salsbiiry, and H. Waite, At the hour of writing (10 p.m.) it is still 'raining. This will necessarily delay the chances of finding tho body. •