THE LATE DROWNING ACCIDENT AT HAMILTON

Waikato Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1911, 4 October 1884, Page 2

THE LATE DROWNING ACCIDENT AT HAMILTON

Recovery of the Body. Intelligence of the drowning of the boy John Ede was despatched to Woodlands as soon after the accident as possible, and Mrs Reynolds undertook the painful task" of breaking the terrible news to the beiea\.-d parents. The hoy was a general f.ivour ite at Woodlands, Mr and Vis Reynolds being particularly pjitial to him, and when it became known thnfc he was drowned there was not a »liy i-ve on the station. Late as was the hour, Mr Reynolds got a buggy ready and lie and Mrs Reynolds brought Mr and Mn Ede and their daughter to Hamilton, where Mrs Gaudin of the W.iilcaio Hotel showed them the kindest attention The body of the unfortunate lad v<n recovered on Thursday morning, some distance below the bridge, and abo it 100 yards ftom the place where the accident happeued. The particulars will be found in the evidence of young Manktelow, one of the search paity. When recovered (about 11 <\. in) the body was taken to the Waikato Hoh-I, where

The Inquest was held in the afternoon before Mr XV. N. Searancke and a juiy of twelve, ot whom Capt. Steele was chosen forema 1 Constable Murray conducted the case on behalf of the police, and the following evidence was adduced :—: — Frederic Gaudin, age<l thirteen, son of Mr F. Gaudin, sworn, deposed that ! ie knew the deceased, who was at t'\o Hamilton West School with him. Ti ey \ came out of school together about halt- j past three on Wednesday afternoon. ' They came over the bridge, and went down the bank of the river to pet fcr.n They had got the ferns and went al< ng a ledge by the edge ot the water, when deceased remarked that he would turn back. He did so, and in walking along above the ledge his foot slipped in the loose earth, and he fell down on to the ledge, and thence into the water. The ledge is very slippery. Witness immediately jumped down to the lower part of the ludae, and told deceased to keep up until he could get a stick. Deceased answered "Be quick." Witness got the stick as soon as possible, and held it out to deceased. He, however, made no attempt to catch hold of it, though it was within his reach. Deceased then commenced to splash the water, and drifted down with the current until the bushes hid him from witness's sight. Witness then ran up the bank, and was told deceased had sunk. Deceased could not swim a stroke. Deceased said nothing after the words "Be quick." Did not see him fall into the water. The stick witnosa held out was lying handy, having been cut before to reach terns with. The body was found some distance fiom the place wheie the accident happened, and below thebiidge. Mr J. A. Bradley gave evidence to the effect that at .ibout a quarter to five on Wednesday evening lie was at the W 0. and S. Company's store on the West side of the liver. He heard voices on the other side of the river above the bridge, and just after he saw something sliding down the bank and the man with him said a boy had fallen in the river. Saw a person struggling in the water in an upright position, beating the water with his hands. Witness run to inform Constable Wild, thinking the constable might go to the rescue with a boat The constable came at once but witness could not say what steps were taken by him. The person in the water went out of witness's sight behind the pier of the bridge and lie did not seen him afterwards. When the boy slipped into the water witness could see nobody near him, but aitenvardssaw another boy holdingout a branch over the water. There waa no boat near, but in any case he did not think, under the circumstances help, could have been rendered deceased in time to save him. A strong swimmer had he been, there at the moment, might ha\e kept the lad up until they reached a part of the bank where a landing might ha\a been effected. Sydney Manktelow, sworn, deposed, that he knew deceased. Heaid ot the accident, and formed one of the party who searched for the body that (Thursday) morning. Witness and another larl, named Murphy, obtained Mr Caldeiwood's boat, and proceeded to the spot where the body had disappeared. Two dynamite cartidges were tired, and witness and Murphy dived to look for the body. The water was very cold and they | had almost given up the search, but going down towards the landing stage witness put bis head vmclev the water and thought'he could bee the body. Told a lad named Smith, who was in the boat to put his boat hook down, which he did, and brought up the body. William Ede, sworn, deposed, that he was the father of deceased. Last saw him alive on Sunday. The lad lived in Hamilton, with Mr Pearson, and attended the Hamilton West School. He was lo years old last Maich. Deceased could not sw im. The Coroner said the evidence was very clear, and it was not necessary that he should comment on the case. The jury could now consider their verdict. The jury, through their foreman intimated that they did not think it necessary to retire. It was quite clear that only one verdict could be returned, namely, of accidental death. The foreman remarked that it was a pity instruction in swimming did not form of every boy's education. Had such been the case a very valuable life would have been spared. Deceased was a lad of the highest promise. The Coroner said children ought to be cautioned against going down to the bank of the river, especially at that part where the accident happened. The jury then returned a verdict to the effect that the deceased lad came to his death by being accidently drowned in the Waikato river, and added, by way of a rider, that the police be requested to caution parents and children against the danger of going near the banks of the river.

The funeral will leave Woodlands, this morning, passing the Wuikato Hotel at about '2 p.m. It is expected that the pupils of the Hamilton West School, (with whom, as well as with the teachers, deceased was a great favourite) will attend in a body.

The usual Wesleyan services for to-morrow are advertised elsewhere. The usual religious services at Le Quesne's Hall, Hamilton, to-morrow arc advertised elsewnere. The pure-bred Clydesdale horse Young Elgin will travel through the Piako, Waitoa. and Richmond districts the ensuing season. i Mr J. S. Buckland has for private sale, mowing machines, farm waggons, tip drays, single and double buggies, Zee. You Can Re Happy if you will stop all your doctoring yourself and families with expensive doctors or cure-alls that do only harm, and use Nature's simple remedies for all your ailments, you will be well and happy and save great expense. The greatest remedy for this, the great, wise, and good will, tell vqu, is Hop Bitters. Sen