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Newspapers : 1902.
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newspapers :
1902
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HOW THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED.
STATEMENTS
BY EYE-WITNESSES.
There were
many people who witnessed the struggle for life of the two
unfortunate people who were drowned.
Several of
them were seen at Manly yesterday; and their accounts all
tallied with one another.
They
described the ineffectual battling with the undertow of the
water, until the struggles became fainter and fainter, and
at last ceased altogether, ending with the throwing up of
the hands, and the disappearance of the bodies.
One of these
gentlemen, who does not wish his náme published, said that
at about 7 o'clock yesterday morning, there were probably
100 persons battling in the vicinity of where the accident
occurred.
He described
tho hole which exists a few yards south-ward of the line of
pipes opposite the Clarendon Hotel, and said that it changes
its position after every storm.
After a
southerly gale it is probably to be found in one place, then
there may be a period of custorly ? weather, when the hole
will be found to have filled up, and another to be formed,
perhaps close by, perhaps 100 yards away, or perhaps even
further.
Then a
north-easterly blow may cause auother change.
In short,
the action of the wind and waves upon the sand may shift the
hole from day to day.
The water
coming in meets the surf line about 50 yards from the shore,
and a line of foam marks its position.
The green
water inside, between the surf line and the shore, shows
were bathing may be practised with safety.
Pointing to
the surf water, he showed the line of foam extending along
the bench for hundreds of yards, but between the two lines
of stormwater pipes was a patch of blue water, perhaps ?0
yards across.
This marked
the location of the hole.
Throwing a
piece of wood into the shoal water on the side, he allowed
it to illustrate what would happen to a swimmer.
It struck
the water, and for a low minutes was carried up and down on
tho waves, but always closer lo the patch of blue water.
At last the
progress became more muíked (?), it floated straight
into the blue water, and then bobbed up and down, sometimes
under the surface, sometimes swimming, and appeared to be
going round and round.
"Now," he
said, "that illustrates what must have happened to these two
people.
Miss Thorpe
was bathing nearest to the edge of the hole.
She was
carried, probably unconsciously, close to it, and when she
found that she was being drawn into it, it was too late.
She most
likely, all at once, found herself out of her depth.
When she was
struggling Mr. Smalpsge saw her, and went to her rescue, but
he, too, was carried away by the current and drowned.
There is a
strong under-tow there, and the bodies ought be carried out
to sea, or they might possibly be twirled round and round,
and perhaps caught in the sand at the bottom.
It is just
possible that the body of Miss Thorpe may be still at the
bottom of the hole, caught in the sand."
This
gentleman was one of the party which took the lifebuoy and
rope and went into the water with a view of saving one or
other of tho two unfortunate people.
There were
about a dozen altogether who assisted in this way.
When they
got out into the water there was nothing at till to lie
seoii of ? either person.
All that
could be discerned was a lady's straw hat, such as is used
in bathing.
This floated
close to the lines? and was secured and sent ashore.
The party
with the lifeline and buoy remained in the water for about
an hour, but could see nothing.
The matter of a boat being procured was mentioned during the interview, and the gentleman Biiid? that one of the bystanders was asked to go to Shelly Bench, where several boats were to be found, and got one, but it was upwards of an hour before it arrived. Then, of course, it was of no use for life-saving pmpbscs?.
Another gentleman who had been listening to the account given above, said the condition of the life-line ought to receive attention. He presumed that it had been there a long time, and that it was decayed in places.
Several
people were discussing the probability of the body of Miss
Thorpe being recovered.
It was
stated during the discussion that 17 drowning accidents have
occurred there, one of the best remembered being that of
young Mr. Holdsworth a few years ago.
The
circumstances under which he lost his life were similar to
those in this catastrophe.
His body was
never recovered, and a kanaka, who was engaged in diving for
it, was sucked down by the under tow and was never seen
again.
SURF-BATHING.
An early
morning bathe in the breakers is a favourite pastime with
many in spite of the dangers that are undeniably associated
there- with.
This week a
bather had a narrow escape at Bondi, and similar cases hare
recently occurred at Manly and at Newcastle.
It appears
that there are certain spots on these beaches that are
particularly treacherous, and when a swimmer in ignorance of
his
danger
bathes there he runs a considerable risk of losing his life.
Once caught
in the undercurrent, he becomes helpless, and unless
promptly rescued is drowned.
The number
of such cases that have occurred should prove sufficient
warning lo bathers.
It is not
so, however, and it is quite necessary in order to safeguard
human life that notices should be posted giving warning of
dangerous
places, and also that rescue lines should be provided for
immediate use in cases of emergency.
The list of
disasters as well as of narrow escapes is sufficiently large
to warrant measures of this kind being taken.
Moreover,
with the introduction of these precautions many would share
in this invigorating pastime who are now deterred by their
ignorance of
the dangerous places and the difficulties of rescue in case
of a mishap.
Surf-bathing
is full of keen enjoyment, with its buffetings and shocks of
billows rolling in from the wide ocean.
It has a
bracing tonic effect, and conducted with ordinary care, and
a knowledge of the surroundings is indulged in with safety
by
large
numbers.
Unfortunately,
however,
there are always attendant risks due to inexperience or
other causes, and anything that can be done to
minimise
these risks is worthy of encouragement.
How Kamehameha Boys Enjoyed Outing.
SURF RIDING IN HAWAII
Very poor copy - need full transcription from .pdf
The Houston
daily post. (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, August 17, 1902,
MAILABLE EDITION, Image 22
Image and text
provided by University of North Texas; Denton, TX
Persistent
link: http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn86071197/1902-08-17/ed-1/seq-22/
 |
James J. Williams : Surf Board Rider, circa 1893. [cropped] Printed
in The traditional malo (loincloth) was possibly a prop to enhance authenticity. The book also includesJames J. Williams' Diamond Head, c 1893, see below, and Webber's drawing A View of KaraKakooa, in Owyhee, 1778. See Illustrations |
One of the
saddest tragedies which
has occurred
here for some tlmo, hap
pened last
Saturday afternoon, when
young James
Lucas, the llxtccn-year-old
son of Charles
Lucas, was drown
ed In tho surf
outside Kahnln, on the
other side of
Diamond Head. James
Lucas was a
bright lad, well liked by
all who knew
him. He was a pupil in
the local High
School.
The young man
had been fishing In
the lagoon
during tho afternoon to-
' gether with n
native companion and
I bad returned
with a good mess of fish.
I He announced
It as his Intention to go
out surf riding
but his grandmother,
Mrs, Auld,
warned him against doing
so as the
breakers were unusually high.
Lucas seemed to
heed the warning
but n little
later, Mrs. Auld was sur-
' prised to
find that he had left for the
breakers
anyhow. Mrs. Auld Instantly
started to try
to attract tho attention
of the boy and
his companion by wnv-
' Ing a cloth,
but she did not succeed.
As It was she
saw the whole tragedy
thiough a pair
of field glasses.
I The boat In
which Lucas and tho
native went out
was a weak fiat-hot-
itemed affair
llttto adapted to with
stand the force
of the tremendous surf
I When the boat
had reached the surf
Its occupants
noticed Mrs. Auld's slg-
I nal and
started to return but It was too
late. An
enormous comber struck the
little craft
and overturning It, spilled
both Its
occupants Into the surf. Doth
roso to the
surface and the native call
ed to Lucas to
dive, when tho next
breaker en mo
and thus escape being
hit by It.
The native did
so but Lucas was
caught by It
and tossed In the white
rapped foam and
not seen ngaln.
The native dove
and was caught by
a piece of
coral on tho bottom. Ho
managed to get
loose and ramo to tho
surface again.
A rescue boat, which
had been
quickly sent out, picked htm
up a little
later. He was unconscious.
The boy's
father was Immediately
notified of the
terrible accident and all
posslblo
efforts were started to rescuo
the boy's body.
Tho mother, who Is In
Kona, uas
notified yesterday by wireless.
All night the
beach was patrolled by
pcoplo with
torches and In the morn
ing Deputy
Sheriff Chllllngnorth and
his party, who
were returning from a
raid In the
vicinity, rowed nil over tho
lagoon trying
to find the body but with
out success.
During the day
n number of different
people aided Mr
Lucas and his friends
In looking for
tho body. A reward of
$100 was
offered, which was later rais
ed to J200. to
the finder, but desplto all
efforts, It was
not found.
Chester Doyle
with somo Japanese
fishermen In
sampans was among the
searchers.
"Sonny" Cuuhn sent three
native canoes
to tho scene. Mr. Mott
Smith cruised
around tho place in his
sloop and a
whaleboat patrolled tho
outer line of
breakers.
Chronicling
America
Evening
bulletin. (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii) 1895-1912, October 06,
1902, Image 3
Image and text
provided by University of Hawaii at Manoa; Honolulu, HI
Persistent
link: http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn82016413/1902-10-06/ed-1/seq-3/
INCREASED ATTENDANCE OF BATHERS.
The stir
that was created at Bondi Beach amongst the early morning
bathers on Wednesday by the presence of the members of the
local police force was more apparent yesterday.
There was a
larger attendance of bathers, and in consequence of the fact
that the two police had great trouble the previous day in
obtaining the names nnd addresses of persons who were
alleged to have offended against the law, additional police
were expected on the scene yesterday.
As the
morning wore on, however, no police arrived, and the large
crowd enjoyed their swim without molestation.
Mr. John
Clubb, the local council clerk, when spoken to on the matter
by a "Herald" reporter yesterday, said there remained
nothing further for the council to do.
Tho
attention of the police had been called to the matter, and
it rested with them as to what further action should be
taken. .
Mr. P.
Fanner, lessee of the Bondi baths, when seen, said ho wished
to refute the statement that he had anything to do with the
council's action.
He
considered that partrons had a right to bathe at the beach
if they thought fit and were willlng to risk the dangers of
so doing. There were, he said, many who patronised the baths
for a swim, and then proceeded to the beach and enjoyed a
dip in the surf and breakers that rolled over on to tho
beach.
ACCIDENT TO MR. HENRY LAWSON.
Shortly
after 10 o'clock on Saturday morning a fisherman named Sly,
while walking along the cliffs at Manly, noticed a man lying
near the water's edge.
Sly climbed
down a path which is used by fishermen, and found that the
man was Mr. Henry Lawson, poet and story-writer.
He was
quickly carried to the top of the cliffs, and Dr. Hall, who
was summoned, found that Mr. Lawson was suffering from a
broken ankle, a lacerated wound over the right eye, besides
other injuries.
It was
ascertained that Mr. Lawson had fallen over the cliffs,
which at that place are about 80 or 90ft. high.
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18 January 1902 :
27 March 1902 : 15 November 1902 : 8 December 1902 : |
Surf
Bathing Fatality - Manly. Surf Bathing Safety - Bondi. Surf Bathing Regulation - Bondi. Henry Lawson Rescued by Mr. Sly - Manly. |
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