TRAGEDY AT DANNEVIRKE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXII, Issue 19248, 27 February 1925, Page 5

TRAGEDY AT DANNEVIRKE

DOUBLE DROWNING IN PUBLIC BATHS CARETAKER SACRIFICES HIS LIFE (Per Press Association.) DANNEVIRKE, Feb. 2G. A double drowning occurred in the Dannevirke public baths this afternoon, the victims being a boy about SJ, and an adult aged about 32, a married man without family. ’The latter, Arthur Urquhart, a returned soldier, with one leg. was caretaker of the baths for the Danncvirke Swimming Club, and was a fair swimmer. On his way to the baths early in the afternoon, ho met. a lad name’' Willie 'Montgomerie, whose parents are residing in Auckland; the boy having been on a visit to his grandfather. George L. Bartlett, a well-known hairdresser. The boy was reluctantly given consent bx r his grandmother to go with Urquhart, the latter promising io look after him. and the boy’s cousin, a girl of about seven, who went with them. According to the latter, the boy was playing with a stick as a boat at the deep end when he overbalanced. The little girl rushed and told the caretaker, who at once dived in. Wliat. happened afterwards is largely conjecture. The girl wont for help. and then returned to the baths where, she says, she saw the body of the boy on top of his would-be rescuer. When a civilian named Albert Fisher arrived on the scene, in response to a hasty summons, lhe boy was floating. Urquhart was lying on the bottom ot the baths near the deep end. the bodies about five feet apart. Fisher pulled the boy out first, then dived and brought the man’s body out. 'the latter was then apparently dead. Attempts by civilians and a doctor to resuscitate the lad were maintained for a long time, but proved without avail. The tragedy cast a gloom over the town and district. The grandparents of the child are amongst Dannevirke's oldest residents, while Urquhart was also well-known and gave his life attempting to rescue a bright boy Io whom he was affect innately attached.