DROWNING FATALITY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume II, Issue 281, 20 September 1889, Page 2

DROWNING FATALITY.

• +. A sad drowning fatality occurred" in the Mauawatu River on Tuesday lasfc, at Messrs Osborne, Gieson & Go's flaxmill. A heavy fresh came down the river on the morning of that day, which sunk the punt used by the "firm in, connection with the mill. Shorty . after dinner. W Stepheosonaiid .Leslie Ireland, the two sub'coniractors, proceeded to pull; the.puntoto the vshore ,ior the purpose of pumping, her out, when the line broke. Stephenson warned , >&te companion tcT'Wok 6\\i fdr^hm self, wlisii the &»Jbmerged,punt rollfed ovev. sstephenson fortunntely secuved hold of the punt, and liauled .himself up by .the guy. ropes on to tho wire,'but h's' unfortunate partner was washed cle\xr,'an4;wasbnivsaen, to 'ris'p onee^atj^rvvarii}, .ajhoiit, jinl'f a chauvbeioitf the wire. Two of the rniH hands" were on the bank, but of course in the swollen state of the river. w.ere quite po\?erlea^ to render any assistance . to. ire and. Tjho ferry is situate'l so,nia,litt.e,di|stanae lip stream from the mill and as" so6n as possible the boat was rowed up, and Stephenson was rescued from . his position, on. the wire, but although every care was. talc,- n, nothiv^g.whatever was scon ot the missing' man. The deceased was a steady hardworking:: young man of abqut •• 25 years of age.,, and his untimely death under s>uch distressing circumstances will be. hoard of with the deepest, regret by jiis many friends iu.ths Uistiict. The sad Qccunence, created quite a gloom amongst the mim in the district. > Ireland's friend's reside in the Marlborough district, but two younger brothers are at work in this district. •_