DROWNINC TRAGEDY.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12748, 27 April 1912, Page 5

DROWNINC TRAGEDY.

WOMAN AND CHILDREN LOST. SYDNEY, April 17. A distressing drowning accident, m which a mother and three children lost their lives, is reported from Brisbane. The fatalities occurred at Whitton's JFlat, on the Brisbane, river, the victims being Mrs Louisa Maunder, wife of Mr E. W. Maunder, a traveller m the employ of Winchcombe,- Carson and Co., and her children — Ruth (aged 10), William (aged 4), and Hilda (aged 2). The deceased lady was sitting on tbe bank of the river. Hilda, the baby girl, was playing about, when she tripped over and rolled into the river. The mother immediately rushed to her aid, and plunged into the river. She made a desperate effort to reach the infant, who was carried away from -the bank by the current. She was quickly out of her depth. ' , ; Ruth and William, agonised at their mother's predicament, rushed to . the river bank. They also fell into the .water. . ./. ■-' .-■''•'.; An elder brother, aged about 12,' plunged into the water, but was unable to save any. of the unfortunate people. He. was only able to regain the bank m an exhausted condition. Two men. m a motor 'boat were soon on the scene,*; and at orice commenced diving. To see anything m the muddy waters was impossible. .After repeatedly diving and groping m the water, which was shallow at the spot, the body of the mother, with Ruth 'and William clinging tightly about her, was discovered. The bodies were .placed pn the bank, but attempts at resuscitation proved unavailing.