A WANGANUI TRAGEDY.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18303, 10 February 1925, Page 5

A WANGANUI TRAGEDY.

DROWNING OF A BOY. accused of with- " HOLDING HELP. IF? ** ' (trZCUL TO "the pbzss.") -fe ' WANOANUI, February 9. allegations of callousness to-day at an inquest into wreath of ft eix-year-old boy, William ;|Uwham, who was drowned in the glfyßpMiul river on Saturday afternoon. y<A|fred John White, ngod 72, a re- * milway servant residing at Araon Saturday afternoon oa tho river bank about 3.30. kWTd a little girl scream near Spier i, iboefc Ho went down tho bank, and JWr.the little boy floating face upWitness could not swim, but an attempt to get tlio deceased fafc ~ Witness fell into tlio water, and i'liffl, all his time to get back. 3?#-deceascd vras some eight feet out. f raised an alarm, and also went rigged up a temporary ' itjjipple, and with a little boy coman til the police came. Sfci^P^ 8 ® 1 for volunteers to help There wore plenty of men on £ v bank, but no one came to his Some of tho men were were watching a swim- ' ">ce when witness pulled himself <4 the water. The body was still i but a few second later it disrffPtowa. When witness came up from 110 waa wet and dripping, f £» - meil referred to wero standj?? 0,1 the bank. Witness told them child had been drowned in tho *•*■*>. but they took no notice of him. '■» appeal for help was made from home with the , BPgpling arrangement. Coroner (Mr J. S. Barton): . jugnt those men you refer to have *' scream T $ They could not help hear- * SLa a Sood swimmer could have il 5?., 0 by diving in. About ll'Sfc and ho could have reached 14m lad, added that, later, when mcn learned of-the casualty

they dived in, and did all they could. One was a man named Scott. Another rowed across the river, and assisted with a boat. Tho Coroner, after further questioning, said: I am putting all these questions to you because it is most unlike our race, and a most disgraceful thing if correct. You havo no doubt about the matter T "Witness: None .whatever. I can prove, it. A verdict was returned that deceased was accidentally drowned in the Wanganui river on Saturday, February 7th. "There are two things I wish to mention," said the Coroner. _ "Tho evidence discloses that Mr White did all ho could. He is an elderly man, and under the circumstances did what one would expect of a man in his attempt to save the ehild. But there has been disclosed what is most unusual iu our community and amongst our racc. It has been made quite clear bv tho evidence of Mr White that some nien and youths were standing by him on the top of the bank, but took no notice, and stood watching a sporting event whilo this boy drowned. Uiey also watched Mr White's unsuccessful attempt at a rescue, and did nothing later when Mr White returned, and when it still might have been possible to save tho lad. And when Mr White asked for help no one but a small boy left the ranks to assist. "It seems unfortunate that his appeal conflicted with the appeal of a sporting fixture. We have so-called sports in our midst who would curse their mother's funeral if it interfered with their going to a race meeting—fortunately, not many." "It was a most regrettable happening/' added Mr Barton.