Double Drowning Tragedy

Northern Advocate, 14 August 1935, Page 8

Double Drowning Tragedy

CONSTABLE AND WOMAN

HAMILTON VICTIMS EFFORTS AT RESCUE' FAIL. CARPENTER’S BRAVERY. ’[Special to “Northern Advocate.”] HAMILTON, This Day. A double drowning tragedy occurred in the Waikato River at Hamilton yesterday afternoon, when a young woman, and a police constable,,, who tried to rescue her from drowning, both lost their lives. The victims were: — Miss Daisy Hislop, aged about 23. who was employed as a domestic at 12, Randor Street Hamilton. Constable Chasi. Hayward Williams, aged about ?1, of Hamilton, and formerly of Auckland. About 3 o’clock a young woman, who was wearing a fur coat, was observed by Mr C. A. Clark, aged 27, a carpenter employed by the railway department, standing on the bridge footpath about half-way across the bridge. She was looking down at the river 85ft. below. Mr Clark, who was working on the bridge, turned away and a moment later he saw the woman floating downstream under the bridge. Mr Clark hurriecl to the western bank, divested himself of most of his clothing, picked up a life belt and jumped in after the woman. Had To Let Go. A description of what followed was given by Mr E. G. W. Thorpe, child welfare officer, at Hamilton, who saw the whole incident. Mr Thorpe said that Mr .Clark succeeded in catching hold of the woman. She was quite unconscious and made no attempt to help herself. ■Mr Clark, however, managed to bring her within a yard of the bank. A rip in the current made it very difficult for him to retain his hold, and the bank rose 20, feet sheer out of the water, with nothing protruding, which he could grasp. Finally Mr Clark became exhausted, and had to let go. At. a point near London Street he was pulled out of the water by several men holding a rope. Mr Thorpe said the groans of the woman could still be heard some distance dpwn the river. Others higher up the bank said they could see the woman swimming in mid-stream. They called out to her, urging her to make for the bank, but she made no effort to do so. The growth along the bank was very dense, and those anxious to assist the woman had difficulty in making progress along it. . Constable’s Valiant Effort. In the meantime Constable Williams, who was on duty in Williams Street, had been called, and divesting himself of his tunic and helmet he entered the water below London Street. He swam out to the woman and reached her. Again she apparently made no effort to help herself, and proved a difficult burden to handle. The constable made a valiant effort to push her downstream towards the western bank. He managed to keep going for several chains and then became exhausted. He was heard to call out: “Come quickly: I afh done." Mr Clark Again. Mr Clark, although tired after his previous effort'and the'hard work involved in running along the river bank for half a mile, responded to the call. He kwam for one and a half chains into the river, but, on reaching Constable Williams, he found that The'strain on his physique had been too much. He then turned back and was pulled on to the bank with gr difficulty. Constable Williams made a strenuous effort to reach the shore, but the current proved treacherous and he was seen to be in difficulties. Mr Thorpe said he and Mr W. Murphy and others entered the water at a point opposite Gwynne Street, three-quarters of a, mile downstream from the railway bridge. They were informed by those on the bank -that both The constable and the woman had disappeared. Gallantry Praised.

Two pulling boats then arrived from Fairfield Bridge, and these were followed by a police launch. A search was made of the bank and the river surface, and dragging operations were begun, without success.

Mr Thorpe praised very highly the gallantry of both Mr Clark and Constable Williams. The water, he said, was, icy cold, and the currents were strong and treacherous. Despite these conditions, both did their utmost to save-the woman’s life, and their efforts won the greatest admiration of the eye-witnesses. Constable Williams joined the police force in Auckland in 1932 and remained in Auckland until November, 1933, when he was transferred to Hamilton. For four years prior to joining the force he was a member of the Sanlban Constabulary. He was a single man. Constable Williams was a member of the Marist Football Club and was held in high esteem by the meMbers of the Hamilton police force.