A NARROW ESCAPE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13859, 23 March 1907, Page 5

A NARROW ESCAPE.

THIRTY GIRLS IN THE THAMES, (Fboh Oue Own Correspondent.) . ... . JjONDON, February 8. An exciting incident was witnessed on t-lie ihamcs at Eourne-end o:i Sal.urday, a party of schoolgirls being precipitated 'into ho river owing to the swamping of their beat. Happily all the girls could swim and notwithstanding Hie burden of heavy clothing, they reached the shore safelv apparently little perturbed by their adventure. The young ladies, 30 in number, whose ttRW ranged from 14 to 20 yoais, had como by tram from Wycombe Abbey Private school at High Wycombe for a day's skating at Cockmarsh, where there was an excellent sheet of ice. In high spirits and laughing merrily, the girls made a rush (or the ferry-punt at Townc-hend's Wharf at Bourne-end, to the Wee Perry Hotel. Having •embarked, the beat was pushed off, ajid when well out in the stream the ferry, lo the consternation of tlio rapidly began to fill, and in a few moments the boat sank. The entire party were thrown into tho icy water, and placed in a position of extreme jeojxtixly. Fortunately for all, however, 'their proficiency in the ait of swimming stood them in good stead, they having had it course of training at tho High Wycombe Baths, thus showing tho great advantages accruing from a knowledge of swimming. Having overcome the shock caused by tho immersion, all tho girls at onee struck out for the nearest bank, a man in a punt rendering some slight assistance. Scrambliug ashore, 11 of the girls were hurried off to tho Railway Hotel, where fires were lighted in all tho bedrooms. Divested of their wet clothes, wrapped in blankets, and provided with hot- stimulants, tho girls were soon mado comfortable. The remaining 19 young ladies wero accommodated at tho Wee Ferry Hotel, where they underwent simitar treatment. In quit® a little time all tho schoolgirls wero laughing heartily over what they termed a highly-amusing ■ advonturo. .

Changes of clothing arrived as speedily as possible from tho Abfcoy School, and" after a few hours' stay at, the hotels the girls travelled back to High Wycombe, apparently 110110 the worse for then - swim in tho river, i'lio caueo of the sinking of tho punt was its overcrowded state. At the spot where tho ferry crosses the Thames is very deep, with a swift current. This famous school possesses a good many associations of _ interest to New Zealand, soveral N.Z. girls having been among its pupils, while its mistresses have included Miss Whitclaw (now o£ Auckland), Wallis (sister of tho Bishop of Wellington), and Miss Love (a connection by marriage of tho family of the late Bishop Hadfiekl). Wycombe' Abbey was formerly 0110 of the residences of Lord Carrington—his country seat, in fact-. * :