BODY NOT YET RECOVERED

Stratford Evening Post, Volume II, Issue 22, 18 August 1932, Page 5

BODY NOT YET RECOVERED

—«»»——_ DROWNING FATALITY IN WAITARA RIVER TRAGEDY IN FRONT OF WIFE'S EYES An endeavour to recover the body of the late Mr. George Ashley (33), who was drowned in the Waitara River at the back of Tarata, will be made as soon as the flood gees down. Constable Hughes, of Stratford, visited the locality yesterday; but the river was too high for anything to be done. The fatality l , 'occurred, when Mr. Ashley was returning freni Huiroa with stores. He had crossed the river successfully, but as his horse was trying to clamber out it fell back on him and he was carried by the cur. rent downstream. Although Mr. Ashley wa s a strong swimmer, lie was handicapped by the heavy pack ot stores on his back and- ithe thigh gumboots he was wearing and his chance was hopeless once the boots filled with water. Mrs. Ashley was standing on the bank and saw the whole dreadful occurrence. She was almost frantic and had to be restrained from jumping into the stream by Mr. J. J. Jacobs, a neighbouring farmer, who was with her on the bank awaiting Mr. Ashley's return.