TWO MEN DROWNED.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 3716, 30 December 1912, Page 6

TWO MEN DROWNED.

SURFING TRAGEDIES AT

SUMNER

•N. 3. WALES SWIMMERS FAIL TO -EFFECT A RESCUE.

[PRESS ASSOCIATION TEIEGBAMJ CHRISTCHURCH, Dec. 29

Two drowning fatalities occurred at Sumner yesterday. There was a Strong nor'wester blowing which apparently had the effect of making the beach dangerous and strong swimmers found themselves in difficulties. A man named Geo. Richard Atkinson,' only about three months out from England, went to Sumner with liis wife and three children this morning find about noon he went for a swim near the pier. The tide was running out very fast and tlie under-tow caught him. Others went to his aid and it is said that he told one man who got him to where he could put his feet on the bottom that he was all right, but as soon as lie was let go lie disappeared and was not seen again. At the time of telegraphing the .body had not been recovered. About three o’clock in the*' afternoon, when the New South Wales and other visiting swimmers were about to give a demonstration of life-saving methods near the pier at Sumner, a report was brought that a man was in grave difficulties in the water toward the baths end of the beach. The whole party, with their apparatus. set off at once. The man could be seen far out and Solomons and Hay went towards him, but when within roughly a hundred yards of him, he was seen to throw up liis hands and disappear. Solomons dived, but could find no sign of him and returned to shore. The Sydney swimmers showed great pluck in endeavoring to assist the drowning man. Solomons and Hay dived a score of times, but without avail. This is their first failure to save life in similar circumstances due probably to having received the alarm too late. Solomons lias rescued nearly SO persons in . uev.

Ernest Charles Bathurst is the name of the drowned man, who resided at St. Albans and was aged 59 year's. At the time of the fatality Ife was surfing with his wife and son and two men. .

George Richard Atkinson, the other victim, was 42 years of age, and resided at I.inwood. Ho was employed by the Kaiapoi Woollen Company. * A collection taken upon the beach aftei - the fatality in aid of. the widow and family resulted in over. £56 being given and promises of further amounts.

Solomons was obviously affected seriously by the happening when a reporter saw him afterwards. It was an example, he said, which must have been needed for very many years. The space of the beach was very big and for their own sakes they •should be compelled to bathe within certain definite limits so that in case cf trouble help.might he at hand. This was the custom at all recognised bathing places in Australia and most certainly it should be adopted here. Bathlmrst was drowned because of the delay oecasioned-'by the long run down the beach and even when they got to the place the only directions they could get'was t; out there.” Solomons says that Hay put up a very fine swim in the belt and they were half a mife out before they sighted the drowning man. When roughly a hundred yards away Solomons saw the deceased’s hands no up and then he was seen no more. They dived a great many times, but could not find him. Further down the current was very strong—much stronger than towards the surface. In fact the currents were quite unusual. In his opinion tile day was a very dangenius one and swimming was difficult.

Some of 'lip raembei's of the Sumner Life .Boat Brigade, under Acting Pilot Hines and accompanied by Constable Hampton, went out to-day in the direction of Whitewash Head, but owing to the heavy sea they were unable to get .near enough to the rocks to ascertain if there were any signs of the bodies or the victims. The t-'-nreb will be continued to-mor-row.