DROWNING OP MR. H. BUCKERIDGE

Colonist, Volume XXIV, Issue 2814, 27 January 1881, Page 2 (Supplement)

DROWNING OP MR. H. BUCKERIDGE

(From the Colonist, January 20.) ' „'\ Tt is with feelings of (he deepest sorrow that it will be learnt this morning that au accident occurred at the Mou^ere yesterday, the circumstances attending which are of the; mOBt melancholy nature. For some little time, we le«rn, thefamilyof Mr EL Buokeiidge > has been temporarily raiding at Mr Buxton's house at. the Moutere, and only a day or two , ago Mr Buckeridge. joined his family. Tes'teiday afternoon.several members of the family went on "a little boating excursion, and on their return all safely landed with the, exception of one of the boy?, Mr BuckeridgeV second son we learn, and who would be about thirteen years old, tried to pull the canoe ashore, but the waves washed him off his feet, and be was carried out a little way, clinging to the boat all the time. He then managed to e^t into her. Mr Buckeridge, who, we believe, was a good swimmer, at once entered the water and swam after the boat, but all his struggles to oyertake and rescue bis son Were futile. He persevered however till his strength gave out, and he had to auccumb. The boat drifted onwards, and the fate of vtbe poor boy so far as we actually known is still uncertain, although as a fisherman and others in the locality, we are told, at once proceeded to follow and search for the boat, we are consequently strongly in hope that its recovery was soon effected, and the poor lad rescued Mr Buckeridge had for many years ocoupied the poßiiiou of one of Nelson's merchants, having long been connected with the firm of Messrs. E. Buxton and Co. He was also a Justioe of the Peace for the Colony, but in whatever capacity he was knov?n he was much esteemed, and the utmost gym path j will be felt for his widow and family in their bereavement. Since writing the above we learn that the body of Mr Buckeridge was recovered two hours after the accident, and that although efforts to restore animation were continued for four hours they were unavailing. Notwithstanding the fact that' two boats were out looking for the dingy, no tidings of her recovery had reached the Moutere up till seven o'clock last night, when she had been drifting for eight hours, the accident having really occurred at eleven o'clock in the morning. Arrangements were made this morning to send out the steam launch Taianui to look for the little craft, and she started soon after four o'clock. We learn, too, that the former owner of the dingy states that even if fi led with water ske would notsmk, so that if the poor boy can only hold on there is still every hope that he mrfy be saved. But in the meantime the suspense among those nearest and dearest to him must be almo3t unbearable. An inquest was held on the body of the late Mr Buckeridge on the 20th, before Mr Charles Kelling, J.P., when the following verdiot was returned :—" That the deceased, Henry Buokerirfge. was accidentally drowned on Wednesday, 19th January, 18SI, in attempting to rescue his son, Leopold Buckeridgp." The funeral took place at Richmond on the 22nd, when thfire was a very large following, settlers from all parts of the Nelson district being present. To tlie Editor of the Colonist. SIE, -I ihink the story of the rescue of young Buckeridge from his perilous position should be recorded in print, in justice to the brave mer who risked their live* to save the lad. About, noon on Wednesday last, a J messenger arrived at Mr J. ET. Thomas's place, which is about t\vo and a half miles from the scene of the accident, and told the sad story of the catastrophe. Mr Thomas immediately launched bis boat, which is a whaleboat, open, and about twenty feet lonw. Under, a close-reefed sail they had to cross broken water at the bar ; than, after sailing close-hauled against a cross sea, they downed sail, and rowed, for a time, hoping to see something of Mr Buckeridge. Shortly after, about half a mile from shore, they saw something floating in the wnter, and on making for the object,.found it was Mr Buckeridge (baton his stomach ; his shirt, being inflated with wind, had kept, his body afloat. Mr Thomas and his companion (Douglas), on getting the body into the boat, tried to restore animation, but their, efforts were in vain. They then took the body ashore. They were.metJby the widow, but ; being thoroughly;unmanned, they could not tell : her the worst. „ Some persons picnicing io the vicinity were requested to undertake that painful task. Again were efforts made to restore animation, but they were futile. The eldest brother appealed to ; Mr Thomast to try and save bis< brother, and earnest entreaties were strengthened by those of tho bereaved lady. Mr Thomas immediately expressed his : determination to d.i his best to rescue the boy. He called for volunteers; he wanted three men, but only two at once stepped forward, Messrs Douglas and 0. Stade, jun., were ready to go, although they were ploughmen and .quite ignorant°of the management of a boat, while, othfir . more experienced men refused to g^. The undertaking was one fraught with great danger, for the westerly gale bad, increased in violence, and " the sea yawn'd around like a hell," as' if eager to suck down the boaf, ; and the whirling waves drenched the.men with their spray. They started at about half-past one., Mr Thomas took- his bearings parpfully at starting from the direction in . which the, canoe had been seen drifting seaward, Ata qua-t'ei-.to four that ifternoon they discovered; the object of their search, having sailed straight to it. The carioe was some four.ieen or sixteen miles frem -land, opposite Pepin's Island., After using th/n utmost: caution, they succeeded in getting the boat alongside the, canoe, and threw, a rope i rig,bs <oyer the boy, to which he plung most tenaciously.; A/ter hauling the boy into their boat,,tbe,weather waßsb tempestuous'that they; were ob'ijjed t,o let the., canoe, .go. adrift,; The, ,bra,ye r boy, although only, some twelve years of age. while in the canoe had been, trying, to, make him.sell some paddles out of a piece of wood,', also to mend the rowlocks of the canoe. In doing this work: he had lost a costly .pooketknife, and he oppressed to his rescuers a fear.tn^ his father w.o,uld be displeased thereat. Poor little fellow, he did not know then of;his far more more serious, lpsg.tjjat he was; fatherless. Owing „to the wind :not only, keeping up its fury.^but increasing; thafprce of itsbJastß,"and changing_tp south-west, the .boat wafrnot got* b.aojt t.o it| BtartiDg point, the wo»t entrance ■':!'.'- .1 ;■-■:■■ .>■.•;-■:■.''<>] a; OO^JjIi;) •••■aVou 1..;.

of th-? Moutere, till half-past eight o'clock the I > riest mdpn jng (Tburiday). J The men and boy) Veredrenchinjf wet and cold, arid the former were thoroughly fatigued by their effort's To" reach the shore. The thankfulness of the bereaved family on receiving back their lost darling can be much better imagined than described. If ever three brave men deserved the decorations of the Royal Humane Society, I think Messrs Tboma?, Douglass, and Blade do." 1 believe this is not the only^case o( saying'life in'wbiph Mr' J." H. Thomas, hae occupied a-prominent position. Some twelve months'ogb, Mr White, of Brightwater, had his boat Capsized, and then Thomas saved two men from drowning. I hope some of: our prominent citizens will look into the merits of this base, and see that bravery does not pass unrecognised. The men, no doubt, feel perfectly contented with what tliev have accomplished, but such a deed speaks to the heart of every parent, and the q ipstiop ie, What shall be done to show honor to'these' brave men? I ibink the least, that, can br done is ' for his yfo'ship the Mayor, as our Chief' Magistrate, to hritijj. the oircu • t-tances t under the notice of the Rojal Humane ' Socieiy.—Yours, &c, : ':'. '■'„.'"''.' !'■ A Citizen.