Pics from the Past | Part one: Double river tragedy

First, it was stated that one young woman had been drowned, and the name of the victim was incorrectly given. Later, more definite information was disseminated to the effect that two young women had met their fate in the stream, and that they were Misses Ellen (Nellie) and Annie Howard, daughters of Mr and Mrs Michael Howard, who reside at the showgrounds, of which Mrs Howard is the caretaker.

The two girls were well known in Shepparton, having many friends, and were respectably connected. What the actual circumstances were that led to their death are not known, but it is surmised that Annie, the younger of the two, had got into difficulties when bathing in the river and that the elder sister also met her death when going to her rescue.

ONE BODY FLOATING NEAR THE SURFACE

The appearance of a pair of ladies’ shoes on the riverbank at an early hour of the morning attracted the attention of Messrs E. J. Maltby, James Morris and Barnett (the latter of the A.M.P. Society), who had gone there for a swim, and their surprise was added to when discovering female clothing in the ladies’ shelter shed. It was Mr Morris who noticed some distance away in the stream what appeared to him to be the forehead and locks of a girl just above the water’s surface, and on plunging forward and recovering the body, he was astonished to find it was Ellen Howard.

THE OTHER RECOVERED FROM EIGHT FEET OF WATER

All the indications were that there must be another body in the river, and eventually, Morris dived in, and in his third effort succeeded in bringing up the body of Annie Howard from a depth of eight feet of water. The body of Ellen was still warm when first recovered, but all attempts to restore animation proved futile, and in that respect, everything possible was done by Dr Grutzner, who lost no time in cycling to the scene when rung up by the police.

Messrs Maltby, Morris and Barnett had been in the habit of going to the river every morning during these holidays at a very early hour; but on Saturday they were more than 10 minutes later than usual, otherwise, it is considered by some they might have had an opportunity of rescuing the two unfortunate girls from their awful predicament.

Fears of even a third tragedy were entertained on the finding of a pair of man’s swimming trunks at the water’s edge, for no owner could be found; but this fear was held by the police to be groundless.

THE INQUEST

The bodies of the two girls were on Saturday removed to the residence of their parents at the showgrounds, where Mr Muntz, J.P., acting deputy coroner, held an inquest. The following evidence was given:

Michael Howard, labourer, deposed: The deceased Annie Howard is my daughter. I last saw her alive at 6.30pm yesterday (Friday) at my residence. I do not know her age. She was in her usual health, was of a cheerful disposition, and never threatened to do away with herself. The deceased Ellen Howard is also my daughter. I last saw her alive last Sunday at my residence. She was in her usual good health when I saw her. She was of a cheerful disposition and was employed by her aunt, Mrs Tyndall, of Bunbartha. I never heard her make any threats to do away with herself.

Eileen Mary Howard, wife of Michael Howard, deposed: The deceased Annie Howard is my daughter. She was 17 years of age last November; she was employed by Mr Wm Nolan, of Shepparton. I last saw her alive at about 6.30pm on January 7, at our residence. She was then in her usual good health and cheerful. I never heard her make any threats to do away with herself. I do not know if she could swim, and I did not know that she went bathing in the river. I identify the deceased Ellen Howard as my daughter. She would have been 19 years of age on the 12th inst. I last saw her alive last Sunday 2 inst., at our residence. She was in her usual good health and cheerful. I never heard her express any threat to do away with herself. She was in the employ of her aunt, Mrs Tyndall.

Bridget Catherine Tyndall, wife of Robert Tyndall, farmer, of Bunbartha, deposed: I know both the deceased. Ellen Howard was my niece and in my employ. I last saw her alive at my residence at 8am on Friday, 7. About 7pm the same day, I had a conversation with her. I noticed three or four dozen boxes of wooden matches lying on the ground in the backyard. The matches had been wet. I said to her, “Ellen, you should not leave those matches there?” She said, “I let them fall into a dish of water.” I said, “That was carelessness. You will let the children have the place on fire before you know where you are.” Then I said, “It is worse you are getting.” She said, “I suppose I am.” That was all that passed between us then. I then went to milk the cows.

I saw her again at 7.30pm. She helped me to give the children their tea. About 8pm, she went to her room. I do not know for what purpose. I called her, but she did not answer. I knew she was in the room because two of the children saw her. At about 10pm I went to put the children to bed and saw she was not in her room. I saw that she had taken her clothes and that everything was gone. She had a dress-basket and a bandbox with a hat in it. I reside nine miles from Shepparton and believe she walked to Shepparton that night. She was a good girl, and I never had any quarrel with her previously. She was only nine weeks in my employ. The dress-basket, the clothing, and two hats produced I identify as the property of Ellen Howard.

Geoff Allemand is an amateur photographer and Lost Shepparton Facebook page admin. Please share your Pics from the Past at pastpics@mmg.com.au