TWO DROWNING ACCIDENTS.— FOUR PERSONS DROWNED.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3955, 24 March 1884, Page 3

TWO DROWNING ACCIDENTS.— FOUR PERSONS DROWNED.

Wanganuj, This day. At 11.30 a.m. yesterday two fishermen named BrittainandSootmore were drowned. They had crossed the bar outward at 7.30, and noticing a squall coming mado for the river. The boat capsized before the pilot boat could render assistance. Brittain was married, but Scotmore was single, and aged G2. Patea, This day. A distressing occurrence happened here on Saturday night. Miss Gardner, the stewardess of the s.s. Waverly, and two young men named William Mitchison and. Thomas Lawrence were proceeding to the vessel after witnessing Blondin'e performance. The night was excessively dark, and when the three were walking along the wharf, Lawrence, who was on the outside, walked off, and in falling- caught hold of Miss Gardner to save himself She in turn caught Mitchison, and the three fell overboard. Mitchison endeavored to save Miss Gardner, but gas unable to do so. Mitchison managed to get out very much exhausted, and gave an alarm. A party at once proceeded to the spot and commenced dragging. After about half an hour's work the body of Lawrence was recovered close to where he fell in. Miss Gardner's body was found next morning about a quarter of a mile down the river. While tho work of dragging was going on a man named Quinn met with a nearly fatal accident. In the darkness he fell off tho wharf, striking the woodwork, and was with great difficulty rescued.