FAMILY IN PERIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20481, 5 February 1930, Page 13

FAMILY IN PERIL.

CAPSIZE OF A BOATx EXCITING RIVER ADVENTURE. ON THE LIMBS OF A SNAG. Fully dressed, unable to swim, and clinging to a snag for safety, a Palmerston North family underwent a. terrifying experience in the Manawatu River last Sunday after their boat had been caught by the current and capsized against the log on to which they had scrambled. Rescues were effected under difficulties and several of the party had very narrow escapes from drowning. With their three sons, aged 16, nine and five respectively, Mr. and Mrs. T. Downing ventured out into the river in a flat-bottomed boat. Just as they struck the heaviest part of the current one of the oars broke and a second or two later the boat was twisting and turning helplessly in a rapid course downstream. Ultimately it was carried out into a snag which was for the most part submerged.

Fortunately there were two limbs of the snag projecting for about 3ft above the water, and the family scrambled on to the precarious resting place as the boat began to fill with water. Clutching a boy with each arm, Mrs. Downing stood on tho submerged portion of the log, up to her waist in water, while the others found a hold on the snag and prevented themselves being swept away by the current.

Observing the plight of the family, a number of bathers arrived quickly from a short distance up the river. Mr. Turner rode his hprse into the river, thinking that it would be able to wade out to the snag. However, when a few yards off his objective, the river bed suddenly dropped and the horse was washed off its feet, to be carried downstream for a long distance before reaching a landing place. Next a swimmer took out a rope and fastened it to the snag.

The rope gave the party a line along which they could work hand over hand. Mr. Downing managed the feat successfully, but the two smaller boys naturally feared to venture without assistance. A swimmer overcame the difficulty by taking the lads on his back. The eldest boy, who can swim moderately well, tried to get ashore, but, handicapped by his clothes, was carried away by the current. He was pulled out after having gone under cnce.

Mrs. Downing was the last to leave the log. Her husband went along the rope and got as near as he could without being washed off his feet. Mrs. Downing entered the deep water clinging to the rope, which at that moment t broke behind Mr. Downing. Both were taken downstream by the current, but they managed to keep their hold. Mrs. Downing scrambled back to the log and her husband quickly followed her. By this time Mrs. Downing had been two hours iu the water.

Detective E. Barling and Constable Miller, who had been called to the scene, improvised a raft out of a gate and planks. This was taken across to Mr. and Mrs. Dowling by swimmers and in turn they boarded the structure and thus regained safety. Mrs. Downing was still suffering from the shock of her experience on the following day.