ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 9289, 14 December 1895, Page 8

ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.

THE GISBORNE DROWNING CASE.

(PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) GISBORNE, December 13. An inspection of the spot where the young ladies entered the river to bathe makes it matter for surprise that they should have chosen auch a dangerous locality for their dip. The ledge runs only for a short distance from the Dank, and from it there is a sudden fall into very deep water, where the current of the river, sweeping round a bend at this point, runs very swiftly, At its shallowest part on this ledge, the water would have been np to the youug women's armpits, and then the shelf falls gradually until at its edge there is the sudden drop spoken of. Miss Norris was thus but a short distance from the land and from her companions when she got out of her depth and into difficulties, and the others rushing in to her aid, and finding themselves uuable to touch bottom, no doubt lost their presence of mind. Had they not done so there would not bave been the sad loss of life which baa occurred, for a few strokes would have brought them to the bank, or had they allowed tbemselvea to float they would have drifted to a shallow bank a short distance further down. The late Mias Emilie Palethorpe waa aged twenty-seven years. Her kindness of manner won her many friends, and endeared her to the children of Mr and Mrs Sherratt, to whom she was governess. The boay of Miss Norris, np to the time of the latest advices from Bushmere, had not been recovered. A melancholy feature of this sad fatality waa that as the Christmas vacation had almost arrived, the two young ladies who were drowned, both governesses, were looking forward with pleasure to the holidays. Mias Norria intended leaving for her home at Christchurch, by the Manapouri tomorrow, and at the very hour of her calamity Mr Dougherty, the agent for the Union Company, waa telegraphing to Auckland to secure a berth for her in that steamer. Miss Sherratt, who had such a terrible experience in the water yesterday, has to-day greatly recovered from the effects of her immersion and the shock to her nervous system.

The inquest on Miss Palethorpe's death was held this afternoon. Mra Frank Arthur told the following story of the incident:— Yesterday between 11.30 and 12, we went for a bathe in the river, at the back of this place. There were Mias Palethorpe, Mias Sherratt, Miss Norris, myself, and three children. The children Miss Sherratt took over in tbe canoe to tbe other aide. Miss Sherratt swam back, leaving tbe canoe on the other side. We then were bathing close to the bank on this side, and Miss Sherratt swam over and joined us. I was at some distance from Miss Palethorpe and Miss Norris, and getting out on to the bank, having finished bathing, when I heard Mias Norris exclaim, "I am getting out of my depth." Mias Palethorpe, who was neat the bank, stepped forward to give her her hand, aud almost at the same moment Miss Sherratt swam to-, wards them. 1 saw then that they were in a difficulty. I immediately cried for help, rushing up the bank to get the boys who had been previously bathing. One boy got the canoe. I came on to the house cryin? for help, and to get a rope or any assistance I couid. I theu returned immediately. All was quiet, and 1 did not see any thing except Thornley iv the canoe. I cuoeed, and presently I thought I heard a voice down at the water, amongst the willows. I rushed down and found Miss Sherratt lying on the edge of the water perfectly exhausted. That is all. I saw nothing more of Mias Palethorpe or Mias Norris after I once left for help." Mrs Arthur, recalled, was asked if Miss Palethorpe could swim. She said—"She could only swim a little. Miss Norris could Bwiin. When Miss Palethorpe stretched out her hand to help Miss Norris, I could not say whether her foot slipped off the ledge. lam sure Miss Norris got hold of her. and 1 think must have dragged ber in. I am quite sure that happened, for they were further away from the bank than at first, I cannot swim a stroke myself, or else I would have at once gone in to their help." By a juror—" They seemed about five or six yards from the bank when I last saw them." A verdict was returned of "Accidental death by drowning whilst bathing."

(PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAMS.) INVERCARGILL, December 13. Murdoch Campbell, aged thirteen years, was drowned while bathing in the Otautau river. He was not a good swimmer, and becoming exhausted sank. AUCKLAND, December 13. The body of a man found floating in tbe Waikato river, near Huntly, has been identified as that of Mr G. G. Tayler, a farmer of Ngaruawahia, The deceased was an old resident and had several brothers at Auckland. The body found ou the beach at Parengarenga has been identified as that of William Alfred Smith, a labourer, aged twenty-two. He bad been in illhealth and despondent, and was last seen alive on the gumfi>lds. The verdict was "Death from natural causes, accelerated by exposure." The body had been partially eaten by pigs and had been on the beach for six weeks. John Lathan, an old soldier of the 66th, a gumdigger, was burned to death in bis whare at Tewhate, near Rawine. He was sixty-five years old aud a native of Ireland.

A youth named Boyd, son of Mr T. H. Boyd, of tbe Atalanta Cycling Works, met with an accident at the Bank of New Zealand corner yesterday. He was riding a bicycle, and came into collision with Mr Rowley's baker's cart, with the result that he sustained a fracture of the arm. Boyd was removed to tbe Hospital, and his injury was attended to.

A male infant, aged fourteen months, adopted under the Infant Life Protection Act by Mrs Catherine Larkin, of Waltham road, Sydenham, died yesterday. The child had been ailing from its birth and was attended by Dr. Hunt, who gave a certificate of death. An inquest will, however, have to be held in compliance with tbe Act. The inquest will be held at 9 a.m. to-day.