SAD DROWNINGS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XIX, Issue 29, 21 January 1929, Page 5

SAD DROWNINGS

TWO MEN LOSE THEIR LIVES LAUNCH SWAMPED ON RAGLAN BAR SON’S DESPERATE EFFORTS TO SAVE HIS FATHER [Per Press Association.] Hamilton, Jan. 21. William H. Park, married, aged 56, a fisherman, of Raglan, and Clarence Walker, aged 24, of Ngaruawahia, were both drowned yesterday, when a launch wag swamped on the Raglan bar. Park’s son, Lewis, and Lewis Bertling were also in the boat, but managed to reach the shore after a three hours’ struggle with the waves. Park jnr. made great efforts to save his father, holding him up for a considerable time. William Park was unconscious, and probably dead, when he was washed away. The accident was seen from the shore by E. Gavin and a party, who took a launch to the bar in an attempt to rescue the men, but the seas were too heavy, and they were unable to approach the wreck.

TRAGIC AFFAIR AT MANAWATU HEADS. * [Per Press Association.] Palmerston N., Jan. 21. ‘ Richard Thomas Polglase, of Pahiatua, a tailor, aged 54, was the victim of a dr.owning accident at the Manawatu Heads, Foxton, yesterday. Deceased arrived at Foxton from Pahiatua with a child. At about 1 o’clock he went in bathing. With the tide going out, there was a strong undercurrent, and it was soon seen that Polglase was in difficulties. Two lads among the crowd on the teach endeavoured to effect a rescue, while eight girls tried to reach him by forming a chain, their efforts, however, being unavailing. Two girls brought out a life-line, and some bathers then went out and brought in Polglase, but he could not be revived. A young man, William Teasdale, of Palmerston North, who had gone out after Polglase, got into difficulties, and had to be rescued in turn. An hour was occupied in resuscitating him. He was conveyed to hospital. The deceased man leaves a widow and eleven children.

YOUNG MAN DROWNED IN WAIROA RIVER. [Per Press Association.] Wairoa, Jan. 21. A drowning accident occurred last Saturday afternoon, when a sideshowman, named Arthur Lyall, a young married man aged 24, was drowned in the Wairoa River. Deceased and a companion were skylarking in the water, when the former backed into a deep hole and disappeared. Dragging operations resulted in the recovery of the body yesterday at noon. Deceased was only recently married, and his wife resides at Foxton.

A Ponsohby resident, W. Madsun, aged 30, diving from a moored punt at Devonport yesterday, struck the bottom with his head and sustained an injury to his spine which paralysed his legs and one arm. He was carried by other bathers to the shore and removed to hospital. His condition today is improved. Through the capsize of a surf boat at Marakopa, at a small bay at the Hari Hari Estate, John Riddell, farmer, aged 45, and two natives. Ru Bey and Charlie Maikuku. were drowned.

Edna Violet Lewis, of Waharou (near Matamata) was accidentally killed at her home by a gunshot wound last evening. A visitor who had been shooting over the Lewis property had left a loaded gun beside the gate. A young man picked it up, unaware that it was loaded, and pulled the trigger. Miss Lewis, who was only a few feet away, received the shot in the neck and was killed instantly. When motor-cycling on Maunu road, Whangarei, on Saturday night, John McAuley, aged 27. employed by the Public Works Department at Pukehuia, capsized as a result of skidding in loose meeal. He was admitted to Whangarei Hospital with a fractured skull and expired yesterday.