Drowning of Frank W. Thompson.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume IV, Issue 583, 17 March 1891, Page 2

Drowning of Frank W. Thompson.

BODY FOUND ON THE WAIKANAE BEACH.

SUPPOSED TO HAVE FAINTED IN THE WATER,

The body of a laborer well known in the district, and named Frank W, Thompson, was found on the Waikanae beach last night, life being extinct, Thompson had gone to the beach in the evening about 4.39 for a bathe.

He bad bought a pair or new swimming trunks and asked several people to accompany him down to the beach for a bathe, but no one responded, and be want alone. Ha met Mr Fred Martin on the beach, and asked that gentleman to go in for a swim. Mr Martin advised him not to go in at that time of diy, or he would get arrested for bathing out of hours Thompson replied that they could not arrest him while he had trunks with him, and then began to undress himself. Mr Martin said if he was going to undress at that time he (Martin) would leave. Before getting out of eight, however, Thompson had put on his trunks and plunged into the water —that was just before 5, and Thompson went in nearly opposite Lowe Street. Mr Martin went home and thought no more of it, until he •subsequently heard that the man had been drowned.

Captain Thompson, the local Harbormaster, went down on tho beach about seven, in the course of his ordinary work, and he noticed a man’s clothes lying on the beach. This looked ominous at that time of the night, and the Captain went up and informed Sergeant Carlyon. The Sergeant immediately accompanied him back to the beach, Mr James Marlin joining them on the way. They started searching, the Sergeant going up the beach, while Captain Thompson and Mr Martin went towards the training wall. The Sergeant soon discovered the body, in about a line with Peel street, This would be about eight o’clock, and shortly af'-er nine a conveyance had been got ready, and the body was brought up to the Gisborne Hotel. Thompson was a splendid swimmer. He seemed quite cool and collected during the afternoon, and when Mr Marlin left him, and there was nothing to indicate that he intended suicide, The tide was running in strongly whsn he went into the water. From lunch lime he had taken a strong desire to go for a biihe, he looked quite at ease in mind, and as stated above, he asked many different people to go with him, each one refusing. He had been cleaning out a well in the morning, and bis strong desire to ge for a swim in tho surf would be accounted for by the feeling of dirtiness he would naturally have after his work. On tho body being examined there were no marks of violence or anything to indicate a case of suicide. Everything went to indicate that the unfortunate fellow had fainted in the water, probably from the sudden chill. Sergeant Carlyon is decidedly of that opinion, and the state of tho body seems clear proof. When Mr Fred Martin left the beach, to avoid being called as a witness in case there was a prosecution, a lady did actually ride along the beach further up. Deceased was a married man, but the wife and children reside in Napier. Thompson’s father is a clergyman, and he used to get remittances from Home.

The inquest will probably be held on Wednesday morning.