Fatal Drowning Accident at Cromwell.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 504, 17 January 1906, Page 5

Fatal Drowning Accident at Cromwell.

[From our own Correspondent.]

A fatal drowning accident occurred at Cromwell on Thursday evening last about nine o'clock, by which a dredgeman named David Anderson employed on the Morning Light (late Halfway House) dredge lost life. At. the time of the accident the dredge was being taken through the rip in the Riley Beach claim, about three miles below Cromwell, and was lying in a rough and swift-flowing part of the river about halfway up the falls. It was found necessary to shift one of the bow lines, and for various reasons the boat could not very well be used. The dredge being within about 40 feet of the shore, one of the crew volunteered to go across on the line and got ashore alright. The deceased followed to try and get ashore in the same way, but when within a few feet of the edge of the river he apparently became exhausted and lost his hold and fell. In falling he snatched hold of a boat line that was hanging from the bow line, but he instantly lost his grip of that also, and immediately dropped into the swift, dirty water and was not seen again. Deceased had been a resident of the Lakes district for a number of years and had only been dredging here for about 12 months. He was about 45 years of age, and is reported to be a widower with a grown-up son. Mr E R. Green, inspector of mines, happened to arrive in Cromwell on the night of the accident and visited the dtedge on the following morning. An inquiry will probably be held. The body has not yet been recovered.