The Drowning of the Late Mr Frederick Liardet.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XVIII, Issue 1702, 3 July 1885, Page 2

The Drowning of the Late Mr Frederick Liardet.

PAIITIGULAHS AS TO THE SKAIK’H AND FINDING OF Id ill BODY.

Several cnquiiii-s hiving boon m id" in l» tha finding of the body of the deceu-vd I ;vd Liardct, the following nan- dive hi- la, n written for tbo satisfaction ofhii friend-and the public. He left hi:-, camp ub ml half past seven on the morning of the Mill May,

and crossed from the mouth of the Umnaiiunga river to Mr Bockett's, tin wind at the lime bein ; S.E, mid wry strong. In i-mdi weather, with a rough sea and in a light shooting punt (the distance being about ■seven miles), the journey was a risky ...c.

The weather in this particular lake is always changeable and ticache)mia, (hiving the foam in sheets of spray and r< ipiiring a person of tho greatest caution and judgment to navigate such u frail boat against it. Several times ho had bten cautioned not to cross the Lake except at the Narrows, and to keep the border of tho Lake in the shallow water at all times. It is probable that poor Liardet pot about three parts of the way across when his punt filled, judging from tho exact course of tho wind at tho time and from tho position of a point called Laud’s End, where Mr Beckett picked up tho polo of tho punt, some ducks, pigeons and a swan which deceased had with him. fheio can bo little doubt too, that he prepared himself for an emergency by divesting himBclf of his boots aud all his clothing except Ids singlet and drawers. Ho was a man of good stamina and great endurance aud would not give up without a terrible straggle, hut tho weather was so intsnaely cold and the water so rough, that nature would soon become exhausted and the victim perish in a watery grave. Thu intention of his leaving to cross the Lake was to makeup his monthly accounts.

Ten Jays passed and lio had not beam heard of, when his wife gave information to llw police in order that a search should bo instituted. His undo, Mr St Glare 12. LiartM. . on receiving Hie information through Mr*, .Matthews and Mr Beckett, started ofl immediately—this was Friday afternoon—to search for the missing man, and on the following day (Saturday) about twelve o'clock noon, near Mr McLaren's station, on the eastern side of the lake, he discovered Fm punt bottom upwards. In righting the boat mm o was found his gun, and in a leather hag iu the locker Ills bade, watches, gold ring and cigarette holder. After taking the punt to Mr McLaren’s the toiler returned to tha camp of the missing man and removed i verything left there to Mr Bo.da it's Jin then returned to his own tump at I'igeoii Bush,

and the next day Constable Smith, of Fua-tlu-rston, and iK teclivo Cinytlal, from Wellington, together with Mr Aaron Siirnnniids, of Spring Farm, came to the Pigeon Bush camp, and the four took up the search. The assistance of Mr Simmon Is was valuable, especially m the boat. Tin* heavy S. W. gales, continuing for some days, prevented much being done, hut the morning of 20th Juno presented a favorable opportunity for a start. Mr St Clare Liar.h-t went first with liis shallow shooting punt, which enabled him to search carefully ail the bends and points in sh illow water. Messrs Simmon is, iiryno, and Detective Chnstal followed in a rowing boat. Proceeding from the missing man's camp the party searched the west shore a distance of from twelve to fourteen miles of water, when his body Was discovered deceased's uncle, Mr St Clare 12. Liar Jet. At the time of the discovery too punt was about 100 yards from tha rowing boat ; Mr Liardet signalled the boat, and soon, with the assistance of all four hands, t.o body was taken from the water and conveyed over to Mr Lockett’s, who very kindly offered his horse arid cart without charge to take tile body to Featherston.

When the body was discovered it was floating in about eighteen inches of water, close by the shore and alongside a quantity of radios. It had been driven by tire K. W. gales across the Lake from where ho was drowned, a distance of about six miles, and two miles from his own camp. Deceased had a companion at tbe tamp and it is to be regretted that ho did not make a more diligent search, as the body was found but two miles from the camping place and close to the shore where one could easily walk. The rough weather p’ evente 1 all efforts at dir: a "i boats, and a week passed aw qy before the body was found.

We aioglad to lonru 'Vt a subset iption Ims boon set on font in W • i , ton on behalf of the widow and elvldreu ,-f i!i unfortunate man, and has I liberal l.v poo i ; o. any of our r- a.lers would lib- . ■ • ■ hef^ wo will thankbiPy t-.,.-. iv« am aclm w.edge any sums forwarded to ns.