RIVER TRAGEDY

Evening Star, Issue 19454, 12 January 1927, Page 3

RIVER TRAGEDY

young woman disappears HER CHILDREN GIVE ALARM LETTER INDICATES SUICIDE. [Pkr United This* Association.] AUCKLAND, January 11. A woman who has been identified as Mrs Myrtle Blackburn, of St. Helicr’s Bay, Auckland, disappeared from the river bank at Ngaruawahia yesterday afternoon, and is believed to have been drowned. • Mrs Blackburn had, with her two boys (aged about eighteen months and three years), called at the home of a resident near Waipa River and asked for a drink of water, which was given to her. On leaving the house she and the children went toward the bank n( the river. A little later the elder boy returned to th© house with his clothes wet, crying “Mummy in the water.” The resident and a neighbor rushed to the river bank, and found the younger child lying on the bank unharmed. A woman’s hat and handkerchief were on the bank, and there were footprints leading to the water, but no sign of the woman could be seen. Mrs Blackburn left her home at St, Helier’s Bay yesterday morning with her two children, stating that she was going to the store. When she had not returned by noon a search was commenced, hut without result. This morning a letter from her was received by her husband, Mr Neil Blackburn. In it she stated: — When yon receive this wo will he in the deep. No reason can be given why Mrs Blackburn should have gone to Ngaruawabia, as she has no relatives or friends there. She is thirty years of ago. On the discovery of the hat and handkerchief on the river bank the police were immediately summoned, and draging operations were commenced. A local swimmer also' dived in search of the body without success. The river is deep and sluggish at the scene of the tragedy.