FATAL PLUNGE

Southland Times, Issue 18971, 19 June 1923, Page 5

FATAL PLUNGE

TAXI FALLS INTO RIVER OCCUPANTS’ TERRIFYING EXPERIENCE. LADY PASSENGER DROWNED. (Per United Press Association). • AUCKLAND, June 18. On Saturday night, between Clevedon and Papakura, a taxi containing five persons, including three ladies, went over a bank where the road takes a turn. Mrs Edith Patton Chinery, a visitor from San Francisco, was drowned, and the others were rescued from thejr perilous position with great difficulty, being dragged out of the bitterly cold and dirty water in a nearly hopeless condition. But for the presence of several motor cars in the vicinity, the whole of the occupants of the taxi would almost certainly have perished, as the overturned car was almost submerged in the ptream, and became a veritable death-trap. Two lads who were first to go to the rescue, getting into the water, vainly endeavoured to lift the overturned car, there being no sign of life till a hand emerged from the water. One man was speedily hauled out, and, with the arrival of more help, the doors of the taxi were pulled out. The occupants were: Mrs Hilda Hart, a widow, of San Francisco, who is suffering severely from shock; Miss Doris Edge, a nurse, of Auckland, who is in a state of collapse due to shock; Jack Ward, taxi driver, of.Clevedon, who sustained severe bruises; Allan L. Spence, solicitor, of Auckland, who is also suffering from shock; and Mrs E. P. Chinery, of San Francisco, the latter being dead when recovered. Miss Edge was unconscious, but speedily recovered, and under her direction artificial respiration was employed on Mrs Chinery for a considerable time without success. Eventually Mis-; Edge collapsed. The four patients were removed to Mr Bull’s residence near by. The two lady survivors are now in a private hospital in Auckland, Mrs Hart’s condition being low.