Two Men Drowned

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 147, 6 June 1936, Page 8

Two Men Drowned

BURSTING OF DAM Unexpected Collapse During Repairs TRAGEDY AT MARSDEN By Telegraph—Press Association. GREYMOUTH, June 5. A double drowning occurred at 8,50 a.m. at the Nemona Dredging Co’s, dam at Marsden, nine miles from Greymouth. The victims were: The newly - appointed dredgemaster, William Woods, aged 58, married, with two children, and Aynsley Adair Moore, married, with one child. A third man, George Fox Webster, had a lucky escape. While the dam was being repaired it burst unexpectedly, overwhelming Mr Woods and Mr Moore. The bursting was due to the snapping of a large white-pine log 30 feet long which bridged the dam at a weak portion on the lower end. The dam contained six feet of water, the quantity having recently been increased in view of the dredge’s nearing completion. Strengthening work therefore became necessary in view of the possibility of collapse. The 30-foot log was supplemented by foot boards and dirt. The log had begun bending under the weight of water, and the three men attempted to put a prop under the centre to prevent the log from sagging further. The men worked beneath the log in a dry portion of the dam.

Mr Moore and Mr Woods were in the act of tapping wedges into position. Mr Webster went for a heavier hammer when he heard the collapse and saw the log give away. Neither Mr Woods nor Mr Moore could then be seen, water and debris having swept over them and imprisoned them among face boards under the lip of the outburst. A great volume of water poured over the log for an hour before it subsided enough to allow the bodies of the men to be recovered. Artificial respiration proved unavailing. The fact that there were uo marks or injury on the bodies indicated that drowning caused death.

The snapping of so sturdy a log wax unexpected. The dredge was to have begun digging in a week, but a delay of over a fortnight will now be entailed. The dredge itself is undamaged and lies on the bed in three feet of water.

Mr Woods had been employed by Mr Gordon McKay, contractor of the dredge, and was to have taken over control. He had prospected the area formerly and had been engaged in dredging in the Malay States and later on the other dredge prospecting in the Grey district. Mr Moore was a native of Ashburton and resided at Marsden. He was employed by Mr McKay as a digger.