A MAN SUPPOSED TO BE DROWNED.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 462, 22 October 1877, Page 2

A MAN SUPPOSED TO BE DROWNED.

Some excitement was caused in town last evening by the circulation of a rumour that a man had fallen off the railway bridge across the lagoon. On making inquiries we learned that the rumour gained currency as follows : About 7 o'clock last evening, the barman at the Star and Garter Hotel saw a man walking across the bridge, and fancied he saw him fall in, a supposition which was intensified owing to the man not being seen to cross over to the other side. Some boys who were on the north side of the bridge were questioned on the matter, and stated that no man had crossed over to the side of the lagoon they were on. Search was then made, but no traces of the man could be obtained anywhere in the locality. This fact seemed to give strength to the supposition that the man had fallen into the lagoon, although no cries for help were heard. At an early hour this morning the police commenced dragging, after a primitive fashion, to lvcover the body, if there is one in the lagoon. The dragging apparatus consisted of a lengthy rope with a number of hooks attached thereto. This was hauled through the water, first from one side and then from the other, by a policeman standing on the banks. Up to the time of the present writing, nothing in the shape of a bodv had been brought to the surface, but about ten o'clock the police succeeded in bringing a delapidated hat on to terra firma, but whether it had been worn recently is extremely doubtful. Some surprise was t-xpressul that a boat was not obtained, and the lagoon properly dragged. Atone time it was feared tnat the man supposed to be drowned was a well-known gentleman, he having not been at home during the night; but all doubt upon this head was, we understand, set at ivst by the gentleman having been seen in p srfeet health and spirits long after the supposed accident took pi ice. Shortly before Wvc o'clock the dragging was abandoned, the only result of the day's labour being t le i\c»wry of the dclap dated hat a'tow mentioned, a hoot, and sundry rubbis i.