SAD DKOVYNING ACCIDENT.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 9891, 18 January 1895, Page 3

SAD DKOVYNING ACCIDENT.

DEATH OF A NAPIER YOUNG I LADY. NAKROW ESCAPE OF TWO OTHERS. A feeling of extreme sadness pervaded the fcov/n of Napier last night when the news became disseminated that Miss Myra Cunningham, one of tlie meat accomplished, beautiful, and bead liked young ladies of bhia town, had met her death by drowning la the Tutaekurl river. Yesterday afternoou Mlsa Cunningham (who was a daughter of the late Mr Cunningham, who ad one time resided at Loburn, near Rangiora, Canterbury, but who subsequently lived at Kakaruonu, Pohui, Hawke'a Bay), accompanied by Miss Ella M'Vay (a daughter of Mr George M'Vay), Miaa Foster (a daughter of Captain Foster), and Mies Harrington,, a daughter of Mr Harrington (officer in charge of tba Napier telegraph stntion), went on n picnioiog excursion along the Tntaekuii river on the Taradale side about 400 yards above the site of the old boaUueiis. Hero they met with a party of boys, ten in number, who were camping out. They asked some of the latter to point Ohem out a safe and miltublo bathing place, the olhnra promising to glvo them some tuft on their return. The boya led tliem down to a ceituin spob aud directed tliem where they eonld indnlgo in n cwini without danger, npeuinUy pJnciog v pef; in the ground to vurn thtr/i H^ftiust n >lecp hoi:;. Ttie rivsr '.I; t!.i.i ;..- io f rijfhca round n corner, and culm'imitH iv a very slow tlioilgh di-L'p aijil /re;;ch.:r:;iH whirlpool. It was at this s'vet Lbat lihe v/aming peg was placed. This young Jadieu dad nob hncm in the wutcr, whieu v/aw iliiclc and nimidy, lung when iwo of I /:« bovn who wcie iv n ennoo henrd frantic scieiunß,

and landing as quickly as possible rushed to the spot to find Miss Ella M'V»y straggling in the water. Mies Canningham had already disappeared, The eldest of the boys, a youth of 16 named Glover (a son of Mr Glover, late (if Napier, but now on a visit to Transvaal), ft* once plunged into the water and seized Miss M'Vay, who was sinking for the second time, and whose face dimly showed above the tnrgld current, by tbe throat. Tbe drowning girl immediately gripped his hair, and a desperate struggle ensued. Glover was Immediately Bhoved under water, and finding he was not strong enough to get above the surface, he held his breath nod plookily abaifcsd to drag the drowning girl towards terra firma. A smaller boy named Fred Smith came to his rescue, and be was enabled to get breath, bat was immediately reimmersed and remained no tor some seconds before obtaining sufficient hold of the bank to effect a landing. With the aid of the other boy, Miss Foster, nnd Miss Harrington, be placed Miss M'Vay — who immediately fainted — on the bank, and assisted by several other boys who had arrived on tbe scene, immediately commenced diving to try and recover Miss Cunningham. The story of tbe accident to tbe latter as related by Miss M'Vay, is that she had her back turned to the unfortunate girl and on tinning round was amazed to see only her finger tips above tbe cnrrenr, and even they immediately disappeared. She sank without a strugglp, without a scream, bat with a quietude which dazed the onlookers, and petrified them with horror. . Instinctively Mias M'Vay plunged to" the resene, only to find herself unable te keep above water. She started to scream and drown, apd Miss Foster, seeing her in extremis, also dashed Into the water with a view to giving her assistance. Finding, however, that she was also in danger of sinking, she pat forth her utmost strength, and being able *o swim a stroke or two reached the bank ; Mies M'Vay being rescued in the manner stated. A messenger was at once despatched to ioform the police, and Constables Norwood and Kutledge proceeded to the spot, Bnd assisted by a number of members of the rowing clubs, started dragging for the body, which was recovered at 6 o'clock. Dr. Locking attended, bnr>, alsp, his services were not required. We must not omit to say that many swimmers who were attracted to the spot made strenuous and sustained attempts to find the body, but of course unsuccessfully.

Tbe theory put forward to account for tbe Bllent manner in which tbo nnfortunate lady (who was 23 years of age) dls appeared was that she must have been seized with a fit, she having been subject to attacks of that kind of late. It is generally agreed that the conduct of young Glover wan heroic in the extreme, and we fully concur in the suggestion that be should be recommended for an award from tbe Humane Society. This apparently Is nob tbe Bret rescue he has effected ; in f.ict he has been the preserver of federal boyß by his bravery, Btrenpth, and activity. Ib seeme, too, that the conduct of the boy Smith and several others whose names we have nnfortunately been > unable to ascertain is deserving of the highest praise, and if possible public recongnitloo. Their courageous conduct In diving into tbe bottom oi the muddy river and groping among the treacherous weeds for the body cannot be too highly commended, for they ore but youngsters after all, V\ o are prond of them, and feel that we echo tbe general sentiment in the admission. An inquest on the body of the late Miss Cnnolngham will be held at Mibs M'Vay's schoolroom at 9.30 this morning.