TWO MEN DROWNED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15884, 3 April 1915, Page 6

TWO MEN DROWNED.

CAPSIZE OF A DINGHY.

THIRD OCCUPANT RESCUED,

TAMAKI RIVER FATALITY.

NO TRACE OF THE BODIES.

A dovble drowning accident occurred in the Tamaki river during the early hours of yesterday morning, two young men. John Hair and William George Ni'-h"l'-, both residents of Otahuhu, losing th-:r lives.

On Thursday evening Messrs Hair and Nicbolls, together with Mr. John J.ins«-n. ■went down the river in a six-foot fl*tbottomed dinghy. When they reached the. neighbourhood of Flat Rock thoy started fishing. At about 1.50 3.m. Xicholls stood up in the boat, Hair leaning over the other side to keep it steady. Xkhnil-, however, lost his balance and, the boat overturning, all three men were precipitat' .1 into the water. Jansen, it appears, whs thu only one of the party able to swim, but ne and his two companions all managed to cling for some little time to the overturned boat.

Hair and Xicholls, however, poem '<i have lost their hold and sank. .Jauseii's cries for help attracted tho occupant? "f a launch who were fishing in thfl vicinity, and Jansen, who had been in the water for about an hour, was rescued in a very exhausted condition. Artificial means of respiration had to be resorted to before he tecovered.

In the meantime all trace of the other two unfortunate young men bad been lest. Dragging operations were carried out right through the day, the police having many helpers. Their efforts to recover the bodies, however, have so far met with no success. The search will be- resumed early this morning when the tide is low.

At the spot where the accident occurred, which is about a mile and a-half hel'-w Otahuha, there is a depth of about 20 of water.

The two deceased were both single nvn, aged about JO years, residing with their parents in Otahuhu and both were employed in the Southdown freezing works.