DROWNING FATALITY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LXIII, Issue 9979, 3 May 1911, Page 4

DROWNING FATALITY.

INQUEST AT FEATHERSTQN,

An inauest was held at Featherstou yesterday afternoon before Mr J. T. M. Hornsby, coroner, touching the death of James Pepperill aud Walter Rodgers. who lost their lives iv the Wairarapa Lake ou Monday.

Tbe evidence showed that a man named Jensen noticed that the boat, which contained four occupants, was leaking, and called out to that effect. The party replied that they were not going far out. A few minutes after Jensen, ou turning round, saw the boat lurch aud turn over, throwing the men into the water, winch was sixteen feet deep and very cold. Jensen at ouco rushed away for assistance, and Lawrie Donald, who was some distance away,' paddled to the spot as quickly as possible, None of the struggling men could swim, however, ami before assistance reached them the two deceased sank, the other two cliugiug to the upturned boat. As soon as Donald arrived, the survivors seized the side of his boat, which was in danger of being overturned, aud it was ouly by his great presence of mind that another catastrophe was averted.

The Coroner returned a verdict of accidental drowning, drawing attention at the same time to the risk run by shootists in venturing out in such cranky boats as some of those used. He praised the coolness displayed by Mr Donald in rescuing the survivors.