SEVEN LIVES LOST.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 23, 28 January 1924, Page 4

SEVEN LIVES LOST.

IN DROWNING ACCIDENTS. HEAVY TOLL AT WEEKEND. MAN DROWNED IN TAMAKI. DIVES FOR FLOATING OAR. Alfred Patrick Doolan f.iO), a married man without a family, was drowned while crossing the Tamaki river near Otahuhu on Saturday evening , last. It appears that deceased, who was a slaughterman employed by Messrs. Hellahy and Sons, Otahuhu. had on Saturday afternoon gone camping with his wife and some friends, on the far Jside of the Tamaki river. At about 7.30 p.m.- he crossed the river, in order to meet and brincr a friend named Owen Lewis over to the camp. The two men entered the boat, and Doolan took the oars, and commenced pulling back to the camp. They were crossing the river near Flat Rock wharf, about two miles (down the stream, and, when about half|way across, deceased look a spell. He let go the oars, and they fell overhoard. Lewis caught one as it was floating past, but the other drifted down stream, and Doolan immediately dived overboard and went after it. He did not return to the boat, and the last time the other man caw him, he was wading ashore, waist deep, near the Otahuhu aide of the river. Meantime, Lewis could not handle the boat, and he was drifting on the stream until inboiit 11 p.m., when he went ashore at Brady's Beach. Yesterday morning he went back to the camp, and found that Doolan had not returned. It was t'oen thought that he may have gone shootin? with another man, but on inquiries | bcinjj made, and this person not having i seen deceased, the other members of the camp became alarmed- They searched the river at about 6.15 am., when the water was low, and found the body of deceased lying in about two feet of water, near Flat Rock. j An jnquest was held before Mr. J. !"W. Poynton, S.?>l., this afternoon. I FATALITY AT WHAKATANE. j TWO BOYS DROWNED. JUMP FROM DRIFTINC4 BOAT. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WHAKATAXE, this day. j A sad drowning accident occurred ivesterday at midday when Haydn Ansell (*10) and Cart'Craner (8), lost their lives. They were out in a boat on the river near the freezing works. It is surmised that the boat got adrift, and that, in their alarm, they jumped overboard to try and get ashore. Xeither could swim and the inevitable happened. Xo one saw the accident. ; The bodies were recovered by the i police at four o'clock this morning. j WAIKATO FATALITIES. ; MAN AND YOUTH DROWNED. ; (Bγ Telegraph. —Own Correspondent.! J HAMILTON this day. j Two drowning aecideutf- occurred in j the Waikato yesterday. A married man J named Albert Tomlin, aged 40. a recent i arrival from England, was taking his j daily bathe in the water-race at Horai hora extension works, where he was ] employed. As he failed to return home ! within a reasonable period, search, was I made, and the body was found in the j race. He leaves « widow and two i children. J A youth named Robert Leightou. aged J l7, was swimming with several other comi panions in what is known as Horseshoe ! Lake, Frankton, vrhen he left his com- ■ panione to swim to the other side. He j was noticed on the return journey, but, ! as the other young fellows were engaged iin launching a boat, they . failed to observe Ms further movements. They missed him later, however, and concluded he was drowned. The body was recovered from the weeds near the shore early this morning. Deceased was the son of Mr. W. J. Leighton, of Breehan'a I Avenue, Frankton. I PONSONBY BOY DROWNED. FATALITY AT TAURANGA. BODY RECOVERED TOO LATE. (By Telegraph.—rress Association.) TAURAKA, this day. A three-year-old boy, named Lewis Xeves, son of Mr. and Mrs. Neves, of Cox Street, Heme Bay, Auckland, who was on a visit here, was drowned in the Waitao, a, small river about eight miles from Tauranga, yesterday afternoon. He was one of a party out picnicking, and the lad was playing about with a five-year-old brother. He was missed, and on search being made his hat -was discovered floating in the river. An uncle of the lad, Mr. Arthur Padlie, dived and recovered the body, but an hour's effort failed to restore "life. A SEAMAN DROWNED. All BUT RESCUED. TOWED NEARLY TO BANK. j ißy Telegraph.—Press Association.) 1 DUXEDDf, this day. Leslie Gibson Marwick a deck hand on the river steamer Qutha, was drowned while bathing in the river Molyneaux at Balclutha on Saturday. Deceased and John Thompson (another deck hand) were liathini; together and the latter, seeing deceased in trouble, towed him nearly to the bank. Then Marwick . grasped his wrist-, and Thompson had to free himself. Procuring a lifebelt from a man on the bank Thompson returned, but Marwick had sunk. His body has not been recovered.