TRIPLE BATHING FATALITY.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 81, 30 December 1907, Page 7

TRIPLE BATHING FATALITY.

DISTRESSING OCCURRENCE AT BLENHEIM. ■-TOMAN'S HEROIC ATTEMPTS AT RESCUE. ■ ; .(BY telegbaph—press association.) > Blenheim, Dcoember 29. A-triple bathing' fatality occurred hero yesterday ■ A party of ladies and children wont to bathe in tlio Opawa River, outside .tlio town. Zita Shaw, 12 years of ago, was carried off . her feet. • Mrß. Arthur Farmar (37) and her daughter Rona ; (17) went to tho girl's assistance, but .woro also carried away. ; , Zita Shaw's mother, who is a good swimmer,'.wont .to tho - rescue, and almost suc-ceeded-in gotting her daughter to the bank, but lost .her. ■ Mrs. Shaw then tried to rescue Mrs. Farmar, •>who had fainted, but without success, tho two Farmars and Zita Shaw all being drowned. . Mrji Shaw was diving to find the bodies, .when assistance arrived. . Tho three bodies were soon recovered,-and efforts at resuscitation woro continued for a considerable time, under the direction .of Drs. Adams, and Walker, but unsuccessfully. Ail inquest was held to-day, when, a verdict of "Accidental death by drowning" was roturned: : The jury specially commended Mrs. Shaw's ibravery, and tho prompt action of a number of menand police, who recovered tho bodies aiid rendered assistance. They also stated that they thought tho Borough Council should/provide proper swimming baths. Mrs.i Shaw, who is tho wife of Mr. Franli Ehaw,a chemist, and a prominent townsman; 'is 'prostrated with shock. Mr,;:Farmar'was absent at his farm some miles "away when' .the affair happoned. " The funeral of the victims took place this afternoon. 1 . . . , ■