HOLIDAY TRAGEDY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXIX, Issue 9491, 3 January 1919, Page 7

HOLIDAY TRAGEDY.

TWO GIRLS 'DROWNED.

(Per Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, January 2. A drowning fatality occurred at .Dovonporfc this morning, Avhereby Alice Muxray, a youn^; woman of 23 years, and Austioe llainbow, a, girl oi' 30, lost their lives., while Alma Rainbow, a^ed 15, a sister of-the _ latter, was brought ashore in an unconscious condition.and afforwards restored.to consciousness by artificial respiration. They were mcmboi ss of. a 'party of j'oung girls and men who wont to bathe off tho. King's Parade, Devonport, about -lOji'clock this morning. After being"" in" tlie water feome time, one of the girls, Abna Rainbow/ was noticed shouting for assistance, and her sister also appeared to be in' difficulties.

A yputh ]iame<l Victor Jlurray, wbo had ju.sfc come out of the water, imincdiau'iy went to their .assistance and managed to obtain ho'M of both girte, who w^r© then locked in .each other's arn'iA. At this stage \V. J. Pai'kor, of Dovonpoi't, wlio was on t}u> beach, dasluvl into tlie water ,and assisted in the swimmers ■ashore. Firet aid was ""immediately applied. The elder of the Mihses Rainbow was restored to oonsnousne&s, -lnit a-11 efforts were tin-' availing in the'case of her sister. - Wiiik-) these girls were beinp attend-' od to it was discovered that Miss Murray was missing, and no one*'Seymed to liavo noticed her disappearance or to have peon her in difficulties. No trace coiflid -ha found of her, and it is presiimod that, afl in tlio case of tlio otlier two jjirls, she iiftt out of lu-r depth and was swtpt away by the strong- ebbing t'd(>. Search Ls being continued for her body.