THE PAEROA BATHING FATALITY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVII, Issue 11542, 29 November 1900, Page 5

THE PAEROA BATHING FATALITY.

[BY TELEGBArH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] PaEBOA, Wednesday. The body of Lottie Thorp, who was drowned in the Ohinemuri River, yesterday afternoon, was recovered at about ten o'clock last night, and conveyed to the residence of the parents. An inquest was held this afternoon, beforo Mr. J. Nathan, district coroner, and a jury of six, of whom Mr. Edwin Edwards was chosen foreman. The evidence went to show that deceased hud attempted to save her little sister Lucy, who had got out of her depth. Though an indifferent swimmer, she managed to keep her sister up for a while, but the exertion was apparently too much for her, and the two children sank beneath the surface of the water. In the meantime a little girl named Ida Maunder jumped into a boat, and rowed to the spot where the two sisters disappeared. In a few moments Lucy Thorp appeared, and, grasping the oar which the occupant of the boat had proffered her, held on for a while until she could be dragged into the boat. The water was exceedingly muddy, and as there was no sign of Lottie Thorp reappearing, the alarm was given, but, unfortunately, no trace-of the brave little girl, who had died in saving her sister, could be found, until the body was recovered by the search party at ten p.m. It is assumed that deceased had become so exhausted in the effort to save her sister that she was unable eventually to help herself. The jury brought in a verdict to the effect that deceased was drowned whilst bathing. The deepest sympathy is felt on all sides for the sorrowing parents.