Impossible To Recover Bodies From Wanganui River

Northern Advocate, 9 May 1940, Page 7

Impossible To Recover Bodies From Wanganui River

[Per Press Association. Copyright.] '• WANGANUI, This Day.. “Because the Wanganui River is in flood and is very discoloured, it will be impossible to recover the bodies of the victims of the river tragedy for some days,” said Inspector J. A. Dempsey last night. The river steamer put out yesterday from Pipiriki, and took two and a-half hours to travel five miles to the scene of the accident. The current is too treacherous to permit a small boat being used to make a search for the bodies. Inspector Dempsey said that the steamer Oliura had negotiated one rapid and was on a second rapid when a tethered cow broke loose and stampeded the rest of the cattle, which rushed to one side, capsizing the vessel in the middle of the raging torrent. One of the victims was last seen struggling in the midst of the maddened animals in the river. Lying Upside Down. Captain Anderson, who managed to get ashore, has been associated with the river craft for 25 years. He is a son of Andrew Anderson, who 'was drowned in the river. The Ihura is lying upside down in the river in deep water. The vessel was able to negotiate shallow reaches and to proceed all the way to Pipiriki in dry seasons. She drew only nine inches, and was able to go beyond Pipiriki as far as Tangarakau.