A SAD FATALITY.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XLVIII, Issue 12366, 5 December 1904, Page 7

A SAD FATALITY.

A YOUNG MAN DROWNED

A party of youn gmen went out in the Bailing boat Iris yesterday morning for a t.rip down river. A stiff wind was blowdng. and the river, especially in the iower reaches, was very 'rough. The 'boric was under the command of Mr Vincent Beasley, one of her owners, and his companions were Messrs J. Langridge, H. Jariratt, M. Loftus, and F. Clinton. All went well until the Iris leached a point •some little distance below Putik-i. Here, seeing that the/ weather and water conditions were unfavourable for a continuance of the journey, tlie young fellows decided to iput about. In doing so a squall struck the 'boat, with the result that she canted, filled, and sank. Just at the time of the accident (about 9.30 o'clock) three other young fellows —11. Smithies, B. Allpress, and P. Foster, — who .were in a canoe a little distance ahead of the Iris, earn" what occurred, and inHnediately put back to help the boatmen. One or two of those in the waitea* caught hoM of the canoe, with the result that it also capsized. Fortunately eeven of the eight 'were saved, three of them swimming to the stone wall and the others 'being picked up by Mr Harry Signal, who had put off in a boat from the townward side of the river. Frank Clinton, however, who was unable to .swimi, was drowned., When the boat went over Langridge and Clinton (hung to hea* for the moment or two before ebe sank, their companions meanwhile striking ouit for the wall. When the Iris ■sank Langridge, who is a good swimmer, gripped Clinton and endeavoured to get him to safety. They drifted some distance down river, Langridge. maintaining his hold until he 'lost consciousness*. Poor Clinton then sank, but Langridge was iluokily carried on to (the wall, where he was seized .by Beasley and ultimately conveyed to the Maori pa in a critical conditional. Word was at once sent up to the Police Station, and Sergeant. Norwood and Constables Campbell: and Issel promptly secured the necessary appliances for dragging and rowed down to the scene. TVie river, however, was far too rough to allow of effective work being done, and after dragging foi- some .time the police boat returned to town. Meanwhile the natives alt the pa had done all that was possible for tlhe survivors, and were particularly attentive to Langridge, who after some time was restored .to consciousness. Dragging operations were resumed later in the day, and were persisted in as long a.s was possible; but no trace was found either of poor Clinton's body or of- the boat. The deceased was the eldest son of Mr R. J. Clinton, of Maxwelltown. He was about 22 years of age, and was a young fellow of sterling character. His tragic and untimely death will be a terrible blow to his parents and to his brother and sisters, for whom widespread sympathy will be felt.