Narrow Escape from Drowning.

Hastings Standard, Issue 225, 20 January 1897, Page 3

Narrow Escape from Drowning.

PLUCKY DEED BY TWO BOYS. An incident occurred in the TukiTuki river, near Waipukura, a few days ago (says the correspondent of the Waipawa Mail), which all but terminated in the drowning of two girls named Minnie Fogarty and Maggie Tuohy, aged about 14 years each. It appears that during the great heat of Tuesday last, the two girls, with three others went to seek a suitable place to bathe, and in going along the river at the upper side of the railway bridge found what they considered a convenient spot, but two boys named John Fogarty and Frank Callanan, aged respectively 11 and 9 years, were already bathing there. The girls tried to induce them to go away. The two lads who are good swimmers, and who were well acquainted with that particular spot and also with the girls' capabilities of swimming warned them not to go into one particular part of the hole. To illustrate the danger young Callanan dived into this particular spot, and endeavoured to stand there by reaching his hands over his head, and was barely able to hold his lingers above water. The two lads then shifted further down the river, and the girls went in. Minnie Fogarty in a playful sort of way said Frank Callanan was only trying to frighten them, and she with Maggie Tuohy went to investigate the depth of the place. Taking hold of Maggie by the dress she waded in fueling her way as she went, when all of a sudden the two girls tumbled in and went under. They scrambled for some lime and came up again, and they remember no more until they found themselves lying on the beach. The two Ixtys being attracted by the screams rushed to the place, and as the girls went under for the third time they both dived. Young Callanan got hold' of Minnie Fogarty by the hair and lifted her up, and then got under her and pushed her head above water anil .-.wain out with her. Young Fogarty got hold of Maggie Tuohy by the leg and brought her to the surface and then dragged her out. Both girls were in>< n-ibh . but after \ouiiting some water tin \ came Ut and when sufficiently reco\. ndwmt home, hut said nothing übout the matter as they were afraid to let their parents know. There is not the slightest doubt but that both girls would have b«en drowned were it not for L j lucky conduct of both boys, who 1 < r\t the greatest praise when then and nm are taken into consideration. I j e where it KtiirrvJ is very dti r and i> avt hirlpoul some six f< U j