The Fatal Ferry Accident.

Southland Times, Issue 9383, 24 November 1886, Page 2

The Fatal Ferry Accident.

■ ♦ As reported by telegraph a very serious accident happened to the Beaumont punt near Lawrence on Saturday, whereby a girl named Thomson, 13 years of age, lost her life. The particulars, as given by the Otago Daily Times correspondent, are as follow : — A man named Miscall, who was driving a waggen containing between five and six tons of general stores for Bendigo arr ved at the punt about 4 o'clock. All the horsee except three were taken over first ; the punt returning for the waggon and remaining horses, which were got on board safely. Everything went, all right until nearing the weet side landing. The.puntsman experienced some diiK.'ulty in getting the punt to the landing stage ; and while in the act of so doiajr, the outer boat is reported to havo collapsed, thus causing a very extraordinary strain on the wire rope, which pulled itself clean away from the block on the punt to which it was attached. The great weight on board and the loss of the boat allowed the puut to cant on one side, thus capaizin^ the ivaggon with the contents and horaea into :he river. There were on board the pont it tha timo the pantmaD, Miscall (the \ ywner of the team), his son, and a girl I ( ibout 13 years of age named Thomson, the j i laughter of a reaideut in. the district, The I \

girl got frightened and rushed towards -the end of the punt that had broken away and slipped off into the rivor. The pnntman made a desperate effort to secure the girl, but the planking gave way under his feet, whereby he had a very narrow escape. The punt being loose, floated down the river, the three men sticking to her. until assistance was rendered by those on the bank throwing ropes to them, one of which they managed to get hold of and fasten to the punt, and were then pulled onto a -sand bar, but not before they had gone down the river some two miles. The waggon has been recoverod, but of all the merchandise, which was valued at between L2OO and L3OO, only one keg of butter haß been secured. Tfee waggon must have rolled over and over, as it is much knocked about.