TWO MEN BROWNED

Evening Star, Issue 21993, 1 April 1935, Page 8

TWO MEN BROWNED

TRAGEDY IN FULL SIGHT OF WIVES BRAVE ACTION OF SECOND VICTIM AUCKLAND, March 31. Within full view of their wives, two men lost their lives by drowning in Te Karaka Gorge, about six miles north of Tangowahine, this morning. The victims wore:—

REGINALD OWEN BURROW, aged fifty-one, married, a carrier, of Tangowahine. THOMAS HENRY MOONEY, aged sixty-six, married, a farmer, of Tangowahine,

As was often their practice the two men had gone for an outing to a picnicking spot in the gorge, taking with them their wives, a child of Mr Burrow, and another girl. Shortly after their destination was reached Mr Burrow, who could swim slightly, went for a swim in a pool in the gorge, the other members of the party sitting on the bank of the stream. Probably owing to the coldness of the water, Mr Burrow found himself in difficulties. Mrs Burrow, who was about, to have a bathe, saw her husband’s plight and went to his assistance. Her rescue efforts were in vain, however, and it was only frith difficulty that she herself was able to regain the bank. In a desperate final attempt to save Mr Burrow, who -Was in a drowning condition, Mr Mooney went to his assistance. It was a brave action considering Mr Mooney’s age and the fact that he was unable to swim, Mr Mooney waded into the pool, the floor of which consists of rock and pebbles, which are slippery in places. When he reached the spot where Mr Burrow had previously been seen to sink below the surface, Mr Mooney also disappeared. The depth of the pool in the deepest place was about eight feet. The two women immediately sought the aid of nearby settlers, and a party of Europeans and Maoris was soon on the scene. Mr Burrow’s body fr T as recovered about an hour later, and that of Mr Mooney early in the afternoon.

Mr Burrow is survived by his wife and four children, and Mr Mooney by his wife and two children.