SEA-BATHING FATALITY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 31, 7 February 1899, Page 2

SEA-BATHING FATALITY.

TWO GIRLS DROWNED.

A BODY DEVOURED BY SHARKS. NEWCASTLE, January 29. A sad bathing la tality occurred near the Newcastle beach yesterday afternoon, when two girls named Ida Jane. Spencer Burraston, aged 14, and Rose Sutclift'e, aged 13, were drowned, the body of the'latter being torn and devoured by monster sharks. From what can be gleaned it, appears_that a company of nine young girls, including five of the sisters Sutclift'e and three of the sisters Burraston, who reside together in Hunter-street West, Newcastle, proceeded to the Newcastle beach for the purpose of bathing in the ocean. Their ages ranged Irom 8 to 14 years, the two victims being the eldest of the party, and as none of the children were able to swim they were careful not to. venture out of their depth. All went well for the first half hour, when Ida Burraston, who was standing in shallow water near a pile of rocks, was suddenly lifted off her feet by an incoming wave and floated face downwards. The attention of her companions was attracted, and the second eldest of the company, Rose Suteliffe, went to her assistance, but met with the same fate. Neither of the unfortunate girls had the presence' of mind to sound the bottom with their feet, and as a result they were both carried out further and further to sea. One of the children on the beach, a little girl named Elsie Burraston, then went in search of assistance, and a man named John B. Cooke was soon on the scene. He immediately plunged in, but owing, he states, to the strength of the current he was unable to reach the children, who were then only 25 yards away. He then undressed and "made a second attempt to swim to their | assistance, but was again unsuccessful. Cooke then went in search of a lifeline, and after spending fully ten minutes managed to secure a clothes line, which was entangled to such an extent that a further delay of several minutes took place before the line was ready for use. During this tedious process, however, the body of Ida Bur-, raston had been washed in close to the rocks, and was easily secured without the aid of a line. The second body had by this time disappeared from view.

A number of persons had in the meantime gathered round the fatal rocks, and upon Ida Burraston's body being brought ashore efforts' were made by Constable McVickers and several civilians to restore animation. Dr. May Harris, c who had been summoned, arrived on the scene shortly afterwards and found that the girl exhibited all the signs of an apparently drowned person. Owing to the exposed position, the wet clothing of the : girl, and the crowding of the onlookers it was found impossible to carry out the movements of artificial respiration, and Dr. Harris ordered the victim's removal to the Newcastle Hospital close by, where for fully half an hour efforts to restore respiration by artificial means were resorted to without success.

In the meantime a diligent search was conducted along the beach for the body of the second victim, and a large band of expert swimmers was ip readiness to secure it as soon as it came to the surface. Suddenly, however, two huge sharks were observed in the vicinity, evidently fighting for their prey, and a few seconds later a monster measuring fully fifteen feetcame to the surface with the body in its jaws. The body was distinctly r©» cognisable from the beach, and w»# dressed in a bathing costume. The monster quickly disappeared with its prey, and a moment afterwards the water in the vicinity wa* tinged with blood and portions of the entrails floated to the surface. The search along the beach was continued, but no further signs of the body wers discovered.

An inquest on the body of Ida .Tana Spencer Burraston was held by the Oitv Coroner (Mr G. C. Martin, J.P.) at Ralph's Family Hotel. The jury re-, turned a verdict of accidental drowning, and added a rider to the effecli that the City Council was highly censurable for its nesrlect to provide sufficient life-lines along the beach. i