WIVES WITNESS TRAGEDY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21876, 11 August 1934, Page 3 (Supplement)

WIVES WITNESS TRAGEDY

TRIPLE DROWNING CASE DEATH DRAMA IN A LOCH When a boating tragedy occurred on Fingask Loch, near Blairgowrie, Scotland, recently, in which their husbands perished, two wives were forced to look on, powerless to lend aid. Those who lost their lives were:— George Boothroyd, aged 70, of Blairgowrie; Frank Boothroyd, aged 39, his son, of Dundee; and Rosie Stewart, aged 13, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Stewart, of Blairgowrie. The three, along with Mr. Frank Boothroyd's children, Alistair, aged 11,* and Nancy, aged 8, went out in a boat on the loch, which is in a secluded spot a mile off the main Perth-Blairgowrie-road. There was no one about except the wives of the two men, who were standing on the shore. In full view of the onlookers the boat suddenly capsized about 40 yards from the shore, throwing the occupants into the water. The two-younger children managed to cling to the side of the craft.

In a desperate endeavour to reach the boat Mrs. Frank Boothroyd waded into the loch, but the depth of water put the .scene of the tragedy out of her reach.

Eventually the body of Rosie Stewart drifted towards the shore and was recovered by Mrs. Frank Boothroyd. Artificial respiration was tried for a considerable time, without success. Later, Mr. George Boothroyd drifted shorewards, but was dead when brought out. Mr. Frank Boothroyd's body was recovered nearly two hours after the accident! The two children were rescued - with the aid of another boat dragged overland from an adjoining loch after they had clung to the upturned boat for half an hour. Mr. Boothroyd, senior, was well known in Blairgowrie district as an amateur bee-keeper. The dead girl was a brilliant student at the Blairgowrie High School.