A DROWNING

Hokitika Guardian, 29 August 1938, Page 4

A DROWNING

IN HOKITIKA RIVER. • JAMES T. V. COOPER LOSES LIFE. A drowning fatality took place -in the Hokitika river, on Saturday, afternoon about 5.15 o’clock, resulting ’in the death of James. Thomas .Victor Cooper, aged 19 years. 'I• It appears that deceased, who was in the employ of Mr Thomas Stopforth, coal merchant and carrier of Weld Street, took a load of coal oyer to Mclntosh on the south side of the Hokitika river,, where his i ffither, Joseph' Cooper, is' • employed. { He' followed'the usual 'course by way ;of f,: the, railway bridge and road at South Hokitika. After discharging his load, *he had a cup of tea apd after a short stay* ; he left for Hokitika. Instead of returning by the way he came, deceased-elected to take a short cut, and cross'the main stream of the river above Ford’s:brewery; Soon fitter entering the main stream the horse’ was nearly swimming- arid the , driver endeavoured to return to the south bank, But the current caught .the horse and dray..* and* the dray overturned, the driver being thrown'out. f ; Mr J. Cnttanco, who was whitebaiting on bank, saw. the accident and -shputed a warning,, while Alan Coles,..Tjvho ,was* on the beach pit-, tered a boat ancl endeavoured to reach the young man .in the water, but Cooper disappeared before he could reach lnm. The horse and dray were also washed, down, stream and the horse was drowned, and disappeared in 'deep water. The find dray were locate, ed. yesterday some three chains below where it disappeared ip some 18ft. of water. Dragging operations have been carried out but so far the body of Copper has not been recovered.