A VERY SAD ACCIDENT

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 25 April 1901, Page 2

A VERY SAD ACCIDENT

Two Children Drowned’ in the Lagoon. Amidst the excitement of the election yesterday came news of the drowning of two children in the lagoon near the hospital, causing a feeling of gloom that continued throughout the day. It seems that four children of the 'name of Kroeningleft their homo about mid-day to go blackbcrrying. The older of the four meeting throe othor lads about his own age was enticed to go up (lie lagoon in a boat along, with them. The other three, aged respectively three, five, and eight years, appears t ) have proceeded onwwards. Coming to the Railway bridge the lad aged eight years took his little sister on his back and attempted to cross the creek on tho railway bridge. When about half-way over ho tripped, and the younger child falling rtruck her head against tho timber of tho bridge, the boy also Jailing. The child of five years of ago who was following appears to have been startled and also fell. In filling his clothes caught on a large nail and he hung between the bridge and the water, his cries for aid were heard by Miss Kyle, who happened to bo in Cooper street, and she rushed to tho scene. She at once got the little fellow that was holding on to tho culvert, and brought him to a place of safety, and cried out for help. Mr Peterson, who was attracted by the cries arrived on tho scene, and got tho baby, who was floating down the creek, to shore ; but it was found to be dead. A nasty wound was inflicted on its head, having struck tho culvert in falling. The little fellow Albert had sunk before Peterson reached the spot. Dragging was at once commenced, and a young man named Swifc commenced diving to recover tho body. About 5.80 the body of the poor little fellow was recovered.

The accident was a distressing one, and groat sympathy is expressed for the parents, who a few months ago, lost their eldest daughter. Mr Kroening is employed on the Petone, which is now at sea on her way to Greymouth, and should arrive late tc-night. An inquest was hold this morning at the Suburban Hotel before Mr. Hawkins when a verdict of accidental drowning was returned.