FIVE DROWNED

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 69, 23 March 1931, Page 10

FIVE DROWNED

LAUNCH STRIKES SNAG

EFRAGEDY NEAE FOXTON

A BLACKBERRYING PARTY

(Special to "The Evening Post.") ' PALMERSTON N., This Day. . The worst drowning tragedy m Foxton's history occurred yesterday ' morning, wh/sn five persons lost their lives as the result of a launch in ■ ' .which they were travelling striking a submerged snag. The victims were: — Mr. F. Henricksen, aged 45 years; Mrs. F. Henricksen, aged 42( years. ■ Cyril Henricksen, aged 9 years. Mr.'Hakaraia, a Native, aged 33 years. • Mr. Hakaraia's son, aged 10 years. The victims were members of a black- - berrying party who were spending the • dayupnver. Had it not been for the - splendid work of an eighteen-year-old youth in-the party, Manley Symes at least threo more lives would probably • Ibavo been lost. , Tho party left Foxton shortly be- - fore 10 o'clock in the 30-foot launch Nina, and proceeded up the river to ' Koputaroa for the purpose of picking Wackberries. Those in the party wore: Mr 'W. Neville (owner of the -launch), hisvwife and three children. ' ■ Mr. F. Henricksen, also with his wile and threo .children. Mr. Hakarnia and his son. ■ Mr. Manley Symes. \ftcr landing just below Koputaroa 1 and picking blackberries the party looked for a suitable place to build a. fir* and have lunch. Owing to the ' - tfanger of fire spreading it was decided ,to proceed further upstream where a sandy beach provided an, ideal place for the purpose. Shortly before,noon all Jjoardea the launch and when about 100 yards from ■ their objective and in the middle ot the channel about 22 yards from the bank, without warning the craft struck a submerged snag. With startling sud•denness the launch filled and sank m - ;deop water within a few seconds ot tne all were struggling in itbe water and although lifebelts were carried on the launch, in the confusion of the moment they all drifted away > with the exception of one belt to which . 'eliine. Mrs. Henricksen, her daughter •Edna,.and Connie Neville, the children jbeing abont nine years of age. A MOTHER'S SACRIFICE. Mr?. • Henricksen, feeling that the belt would' not support- the three of jthem, let go and pushed tho two girls iclear. In doing this she sacrificed her 'own life and was not seen again. ' Mr. Hakaraia had hold of his son, • aged 10 years, and together with Jim£fie Neville, aged H years, and Manjley Symes. aged 18, struck out for the Ibank This was reached first by froung Symes, who, looking back, was horrified to see Mr. Hakaraia, who was febout 12 feet from the bank, collapse an a seizure and in sinking grab hold ipf Jimmie Neville, who was swimming ijuat ahead of him. The three disappeared from sight and young Symes, disregarding his own peril, immediately dived in and dragging Jimmy ' Neville from the unconscious man, pulled him safely ashore. Symes, then noticing the dangerous (plight of .the two girls clinging to the lifebelt,'which the strong inflowing itido had carried about one and a half chains upstream, again plunged into "•the water, and swimming out to the feirls, got bold of the lifebelt and towed them, to safety. Mr. Henricksen, being unable to fcwim, was soon struggling in the water fceforo he disappeared. His daughter, Elsie, aged 16 years, (was able to swim and reached the shore in an exhausted condition. At the"time of the crash Mr. Neville' was 'standing in the cockpit 'of the Haunch and with great presence of mmd ifreed the lifebelts and instructed those ' 'of the younger people who could swim !*> make for the shore. At the same Same he grabbed'hold of Mrs. Neville, who in turn hold the boy Cyril Henric'x|sen, aged nine years. WIFE RESCUED UNCONSCIOUS. - Mr. Neville struck out for the shore ■but after getting about 25 feet from ■the launch-with his heavy burden his jfeet became entangled in ono of the mooring lines which had been coiled in fche cockpit of the launch. Hampered with his heavy clothing and boots he lyras unable to free himself and strugf" led frantically in an endeavour to get old of a loose rope and pull himselfl '(back to the launch. The force of the Current and the weight of the other two persons was too much for him and Mrs. jNeville, still clinging to the boy, Cyril, [became submerged. Hanging desperately to a corner of'his wife's coat Air.- Neville eventually got his feet clear Sind pulled her out of the water. She Jtoas unconscious and had lost her hold . %p{ the] boy.. After struggling back to the launch, - ftho bow of which was now just stick- , Ing out of the water, Mr. Neville there ,- applied artificial respiration , for some 'sninutes and was able to bring his wife 'Sound. She had been under the water '{for about ten' minutes. ■ Mr. George Jones, of Koputaroa, to- • gether with a party of men, then came along in a boat and took Mr. and Mrs. Seville ashore and within a short time iad built fires and had done everything possible for the survivors. _ They immediately commenced drag- . ging' operations and were successful ' ;after sometime in securing the bodies cf Mr. Hakaraia-and his son, also Mr. JHenricksen and his son Cyril. .The body of Mrs. Henrickson has not Jet been located. . Tinder the supervision of Dr. Miller jt)f -Levin, who was quickly on the scene, • artificial respiration was tried on tho bodies recovered but without success. The survivors were later driven back jo their homes in Foxton. All are suffering severely from shock and Mrs. - Neville, who is- completely! prostrated, -. is confined to her bed under medical . J^tention. SPLENDID.WORK BY MANLEY SYMES. In an interview"last night, Mr. Neville could not speak too highly of the manner in which Manley Symes had acted during the crisis. His actions • fwere undoubtedly responsible for saving the lives .of .Timniio Neville, and of ithe/ two little . girls who were clinging ' ifco the lifebelt. Mr. Neville also expressed great adjipiration and appreciation of the ser,vices rendered by Dr. Miller and also ' ijf- the great assistance given : by Mr. ...'.. jJTones and , his py ty and of the • kindness of those who took the sufferers Jack to Foxton. Mr.; Henricksen was aged about 45 • jpears aadhis wife, was three years younger. They leave two daughters, 2§lsie and Edna, and a son Neil, who is : 'eciployed at the Palmerston North "Hospital. .Mr. Hakaraia was aged about 33 gjnears and leaves a wife and two ehil- ' jflien.- '••' - V '". The snag the launch struck was well known by'men of the river service, of which M*r. Hakaraia was one. He was at the wheel of the launch when she 'fetruck. ■ " ; •■•■.' (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) i FpXTON, This Day. / The body of Mrs. Henricksen was regfcwered this morning. All the bodies &re now accounted for. ■ • •