TRAGIC STORY OF THREE BROTHERS

Northern Advocate, 30 November 1936, Page 4

TRAGIC STORY OF THREE BROTHERS

ONE DROWNED IN BACK-COUNTRY DRAMA

[Special to “Northern Advocate .”l WAIROA, This Day.

The tragic story of how three young boys, all brothers, went for a swim in what is known as the Hopuawhara Creek, some 30 miles from Wairoa, on Friday afternoon, against the wishes of their mother; of how one of them lost his. life while swimming across the stream with one of the others on his back; and of how the brother, learning that the pair were in difficulties went to their rescue and managed to save one of them, comes from Mahia Peninsula, on the East Coast.

The victim was Edward James Blake, the nine-year-old son of Mr and Mrs Charles Blake, of Kaiwaihau, Mahia. There is little doubt that the fatality would have been a double one, had it not„ been for the promptitude of Ernest Blake, aged 12, who dived into Ithe stream and rescued his seven-year-old brother, William, and then dived back on what proved to be an unsuccessful effort to save Edward.

The fatality occurred some time between 1.30 and 2.30 on Friday afternoon. Mr Blake was at work at the time, and his four sons, Edward, Ernest, William and Charles, were engaged about the house. The weather was extremely hot, and Edward asked his mother if he could go for a swim. He was forbidden to do so, but a little later he disappeared with two of his brothers. The boys were absent for some time, when Charles came running home to say that William had been drowned.

Hearing his brothers’ cries, Ernest sped to the stream and there saw William, who was unable to swim, struggling in the water. Throwing off his clothes, Ernest dived into the water, and managed to bring the boy ashore. He was then informed that Edward, who was a good swimmer, was still in the water and he swam back into the stream, but was unable to locate him.

Mr Blake and Constable C. Matches were informed, and some hours later the body was recovered. At an inquest held yesterday a verdict of accidental , drowning was returned.