THE NAPIER DROWNING FATALITY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2469, 6 April 1909, Page 5

THE NAPIER DROWNING FATALITY.

DETAILS OF THE TRAGEDY.

[Per Press Association.]

NAPIER, April 5. The body of Mr. R. P. Clarkson, director of the technical -school, who was drowned on Saturday, has not yet been recovered. In connection with the accident it appears that Mr. Clarkson and a young man named L. Espagne, clerk in Dalgety and Co.’s office, were the only persons in the water at the time. By the time Mr. • Espagne’’ was ready for his dip Mr. Clarkson was'paddling on the edge of the water. Mr. Espagne plunged straight in and swam towards the Masonic Hotel. Finding himself getting tired, he turned hack, and, on again reaching the point opposite the marquees, saw that Mr. Clarkson had entered the water and was swimming towards tlio breakwater. Almost immediately Mr. Clarkson began to cry for help, and seeing that his companion was in trouble Mr. Espagne began to swim towards him. On coming in contact Air. Espagne said, “Are you done?” but it was evident that Air. Clarkson had lost command of himself, as he was oblivious of the fact that Air. Espagne, was there to assist, and he began frantically to cry for the caretaker, Air. Lyman. Air. Espagne endeavored to get Mr. Clarkson to roll over on his back, so that he-could support him, but the deceased, who was the bigger and stronger of the two, first clutched Air. Espagne by the wrist and then gripped him round the side. Air. Espagne realised the full danger of the position, and finding himself powerless, set up a frenzied cry for help, with that of the drowning man. People on the beach failed to realise the tragedy that was being enacted under their eyes. Unfortunately, it has been the practice amongst some bathers to sham drowning in the waves and to set up mock serious screams for lie%. The caretaker and others thought that Messrs Clarkson and Espagne were simply amusing themselves. Both men were known to he able to look alter themselves in the water, and, as the sea was calm, it ivas not thought possible that anything serious could occur. Air. Espagne saw that a terrible misconception Avas being made on shore, and as Air. Clarkson continued to struggle, his position was a most trying one the whole of the time. Air. Espagne found himself out of his depth, and finally Mr Clarkson slipped from his hold arefund his body and grasped his A\ r ould-be rescuer by the leg. A moment later and the unfortunate victim’s hold relaxed, and Air. Espagne reached the shore in an exhausted condition. AN AVOIDABLE FATALITY. (Special to “Times.”) NAPIER, Anri! 5. All the accounts that have come to hand state that Air. Clarkson’s death could very, easily have been averted, had those near the scene of the fatality, have taken the steps which ordinarily might have been looked for. The beach attendant, who is thoroughly experienced in life-saving, was loudly called for a few times by Air. Clarkson, and many times by Air. Espagne. So loudly did they call, that women in a house on the high hill above the beach hoard and ran out, yet the attendant, standing close to the sea, listened calmly to the cries, and explained afterAvards that ho thought them the outcome of bathers larking. Other bathers were fairly handy, hut they, too, took their cue from the official attendant, and Avhile two bathers were battling in a death struggle- they innocent-; ly enough treated the affair as a joxe. The sad occurrence has cast a gloom over the toAvn, and everyone in the toAvn seems to be talking of it, the deceased having been extremely popular in educational circles. His place will be hard to fill, for he had initiated a Very comprehensive scheme for the conduct of technical education throughout the Hawke’s Bay district, and great things were expected from, its adoption. _ RESOLUTION OF THE TECHNICAL BOARD. At a meeting of the Napier Technical Board this morning, the chairman said that the death of Air. Clarkson Avas not only a. loss to the town, but was well nigh a calamity. Technical education in Napier had had its infantile troubles, but in Mr. Clarkson they felt they had the right mail in the right place. It Avas felt that he Avould have •raised the school to be one of the highest in the Dominion. He moved: “That this Board expresses regret at the untimely death of Air. R. P. Clarkson, and desires to place on record its high appreciation of his qualities as Director of the Napier Technical School and, also as a citizen.” . The motion on being put Avas carried, the members standing. Mr Clarkson was a prominent member of the Catholic communion, and at St Patrick’s Church yesterday touching references to his death Avere made by* tiie Rev. Fathers Goggan and O’Connor. The Rev. Canon Alavne, at St. John’s Cathedral, the Rev. J. .A. Asher at St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church, and the Rev. A. C. Lowry at tho Trinity Wesleyan Church, also spoke in feeling terms of the sad event and the loss that the community had sustained.