A BATHING MISADVENTURE

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2385, 29 December 1908, Page 4

A BATHING MISADVENTURE

AN OCCURRENCE AT SPONGE BAY.

An occurrence took place at Sponge Bay on Saturday afternoon which, under less favorable flight easily have ended disastrously. A number of -ladies and gentlemen were picnicking on the beach when one of tho number, Mr Lawton, decided to have ta bathe. Whilst swimming amongst the breakers his trunks became entangled with his legs, with the result that he was carried beyond tho breakers and, being caught in the backwash, could not get back. (Ho called out for help and another of "tho party, Mr Lindsay, -promptly went to his rescue. Meantime Lawton was swimming easily to ..keep afloat, and with the assistance of Ins mate, was able to reach a spot, where a rock, about tiro feet- under tho water, gave them temporary footing. A big wave, however, " came along and swept both, to sea again, and they were separated. By this time another of tho party. Mr Frank Pettie, had dashed in with a rope. He reached tho- pair of swimmers, both of whom by this time had had quito enough of buffeting with the waves, but while handing them the rope, through some mischance, he lost it and tlio means of rescue was washed away." However tlio rope was thrown out again by Mr Lewis, of the Government Survey Department, who, standing up to his chest in water, held the other end and Pettie again securing it, was able to pass it along to the others. There were plenty of willing hands at the shore end of tlio line, and- the swimmers wero quickly pulled to land, none seriously * the worse for their adventure. The whole incident occupiedlittle time, hut it was a period of alarm for the band of piomckers on the shore, and it is not pleasant to contemplate what the result might have been had there not fortunately been a -rope handy to assist in tho work of rescue. Once safely on the beadle nothing was left undone for the welfare and comfort- of th’o party, which had just undergone a trying experience and in this connection they desiro to tender tlieir sincere thanks to those ladies and gentlemen who cared for them. ' \ > : -■■■ - I .