DROWNED IN BRICK PIT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19698, 26 July 1927, Page 9

DROWNED IN BRICK PIT.

THREE LIVES LOST.

HEROIC ATTEMPTS AT RESCUE.

Three young boys were drowned in a disused brick-pit at St. Peters, Sydney, last week, when they toppled off an empty cable drum on which they had been playing "sailors." Heroic, but futile, efforts to rescue the children were made by William Law, who dived into the pit several times. The victims were:—William Wormleton, aged 11; Ernest Wormleton, aged 10; Gus. Holleybone, aged 7. The tragedy provides another grim reminder of the menace of disused quarries and pits. It is stated that the pit where the three boys met their death has claimed four other victims during the last four years. Similar tragedies have occurred recently in other suburbs of Sydney. The disused pit, which is now used by the Newtown Council as a rubbish tip, is about 150 yds. long and about 50ft. wide. The banks are very steeß, in most places being about 30ft. deep. It is stated that the three boys were seen playing about the place during tho morning, and were hunted away by a council official. Early in the afternoon they scrambled on to the empty cable drum, which is like a huge cotton reel in appearance. It is believed that they were paddling about on the water when it turned over, and they were thrown off. None of them could swim, and they were seen by a lad struggling t<) reach the bank. The lad ran along the roadway, calling for help, and Law hearing his cries, dashed to tho pit. Law saw two of the boys frantically splashing about in the water as he scrambled down the side of the pit, but they had disappeared when he reached the water's edge. Without waiting to divest himself of his clothing, he plunged into the icy water, and began diving at 'tho spot where the boys had sunk. His efforts were unsuccessful, and he swam back to the bank. Taking off some of his clothing, he entered the water again. After diving underneath several times, the plucky man cut his face open on a tin at the bottom, and had to be assisted home. Several policemen were quickly on the scene with grappling irons, and with the first throw they brought the body of Holleybone to the surface. The body of Ernest Wormleton was secured a minute later. The body of his brother was not found until an hour later. The police had a dangerous job, for they had to descend the bank by ropes at a spot where it rises a sheer 60ft. to the ground level.