SHOCKING DROWNING ACCIDENT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume 9187, Issue XLI, 11 April 1910, Page 5

SHOCKING DROWNING ACCIDENT.

AT WANCANUL

EIGHT PERSONS DROWNED

(Fee Fkess Association.) WANGANUI, April 10.

A distressing drowning accident occurred at Castlccliii about noon to-day whereby eight lives were lost, the drowned being members of two families, Ludlam and Anderson.

A number of residents had arranged a picnic on the South Spit, and a flatbottomed boat was used to ferry picnickers across the river.

The first trip was safely accomplished and the boat left again with ten occupants. All went well until the middle of the river was reached, when a strong tide and swell from the sea made a nasty jobble. An attempt was made to turn back, but when the boat was broadside on it capsized, all the occupants being precipitated into the water. A fisherman on South Spit noticed the catastrophe, asd put off to the rescue. He managed to save two boys, and then saw the body of a woman floating. This proved to be Mrs Ludlam, tightly clasping her little children. Both were dead. The alarm was then given, but owing to the rough state of the river dragging could not be carried out. It is expected that the bodies will be taken out to sea and washed ashore along the beach. A large party of police and residents are searching. So far as can be ascertained at present those drowned are: — Mrs Ludlam, 49, wife of Walter Ludlam. butcher, of Castlccliff. ' William Ludlam. 20. James Ludlam, 18. Claude Ludlam, 10. Gladys Ludlam, 5. Mrs Phema Anderson, 48, wife of George Anderson, working foreman at the harbour works, and her four children : j Maud Anderson, 18. Ernest Anderson, 3. Robert Jenkins, 25, and David Anderson, aged 8, clung to the boat and were saved. Both families arc well known at Castlecliff, and the township has been plunged in gloom. DRAGGING THE RIVER. NO BODIES FOUND. A HUSBAND'S TERRIBLE PLIGHT. WATCHES HIS WIFE AND FAMILY DROWN. POWERLESS TO AID THEM. WANGANUI, April 11. -

The police and parties have been engaged since daylight dragging the river for the bodies, but so far none have been recovered., and it is thought that most, if not all, have been washed out to sea. There was an exceptionally strong outgoing current at the time of the accident, and a strong wind blowing. The river was choppy and rough, rendering a passage across anything but a light task for the better class of craft, much less for a sixteen-foot flat-bottomed boat filled with people. The fact that the river was rough accounts for the-absence of other boats .which on fine days dot its expanse on Sundays between town and the heads. The accident occurred about mid-day.

Between the town and the entrance is always looked upon as a difficult place to negotiate for small boats when the wind is blowing, as wind and current generally clause a jobble.;, There are no houses near on cither side of the river, and the accident was only seen by one or two, including Anderson, who had previously crossed the river, and was standing on a sandhill watching the boating party. He saw the boat upset and his wife and family drowning, but was powerless to render assistance. Most of the launches were engaged up the river, and could not be obtained till late in the evening. Consequently there were only the fishermen to render assistance.