Mary Ann Wray

DROWNED IN THE RESERVOIR
Mrs. Wray, wife of the Engineer of, the Waterworks, was drowned in the reservoir this morning. It appears that Mr. Wray went to the engines at about 8 o'clock as usual, and after he had been there about 3/4 of an hour his little daughter came to him much excited and said, "Mother is in the reservoir, and I can't see her." Mr. Wray at once rushed to the water and saw the tin can which deceased used for carrying water floating on the surface, as well as deceased's hat. He at once jumped in at the spot where Mrs. Wray was accustomed to descend the sloping side for water, but although he could see the corpse lying on its back on the concrete bottom, the water was too deep for him to reach it. He accordingly ran back to the house and got a piece of wire rope. Partially divesting himself of his clothing, he took one end of the rope and gave the other end to his daughter to hold on the bank. After one or two attempts he succeeded in catching hold of the deceased, but was unable to bring the body up the slope. He therefore dispatched his daughter off to the neighbors for assistance, but while she was gone he managed to bring his wife's body out by himself. He at once sent to town for Dr. O'Carroll, and in the meantime he obtained the services of Mrs. Fowler, a neighbor, who having had experience as a nurse, was of great assistance in the efforts to restore animation. Every effort, however, failed, and when Dr. O'Carroll arrived, at noon, there was nothing for him to do but pronounce that life was extinct. The deceased must have been in the water fully three-quarters of an hour, for it was not until her children had become alarmed at her long absence that they thought of going to the reservoir to see what was detaining her. The water in the reservoir is about 7ft. 6in. deep, and as it is slightly lower than ordinarily a margin of slippery cement was left all round the sloping concrete sides. This evidently caused deceased to slip. It was not thought at all dangerous to procure the water in this manner, and had been the method adopted by the family since living there. Deceased was 43 years of age, and leaves seven children, the youngest of whom is two years of age.
Source: Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 6868, 21 September 1885, Page 2 [https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TH18850921.2.6].