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Evening Post 2 Sep 1880
Alarming Accident at Wainuiomata: Gallant conduct of three young ladies We are indebted to a Wainuiomata correspondent for an account of an act of great gallantry of three young ladies in that district. It appears that two daughters of Mr R. Prouse and a cousin of theirs, Miss Johnson, went on top of the hill on Saturday to gather ferns. As they were returning a little nephew of the young ladies, named George G. Burdan, four years of age, ran to meet them. He was attempting to cross the Wainuiomata river by means of the narrow footbridge (consisting of a plank 18 inches wide and a handrail) when he fell into the water, which at this spot is very deep. The girls, seeing him fall, ran to the river bank. The eldest, Miss Annie Prouse, who is about 17 years of age, plunged into the water, and when taking hold of the boy got out of her depth, the result being that both of them sank. Miss Emma Prouse seeing her sister and the little fellow drowning, then followed in to try to save them; but she also went beyond her depth and sank with the rest. The current, however, carried them along to a shallow part of the river, and they were fortunately able to regain a footing, Miss Johnson helping them out. At first it was feared the little boy was dead, but he soon showed signs of life on being taken ashore and attended to. Miss Annie Prouse was also found to be quite exhausted. Altogether the adventure was a very perilous one, and the young ladies are to be complemented on the very plucky way in which they acted. |