SWEPT INTO SEA.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 247, 19 October 1933, Page 8

SWEPT INTO SEA.

LIGHTHOUSE TRAGEDY HEROIC RESCUE EFFORTS. BOY DOES MAN'S WORK.

A twelve-year-old boy was called upon to assist his father in the work of looking after the lonely lighthouse at Cape Maria Van Diemen, following the double drowning tragedy which occurred there late on Saturday afternoon, according to the story told by members of the crew of the Government lighthouse steamer Matai, which arrived at Auckland this morning. The boy, who for three days did. the work of a man, was Donald Young, son of Mr. P. Young, principal lighthouse keeper at Cape Maria. The victims of the tragedy were Mrs. Minnie Elizabeth Xewson, wife of the assistant-lighthouse keeper and Mr. Frederick Gage, second assistant keeper and wireless operator. The body of Mrs. Xewson was recovered soon after the tragedy, but that of Mr. Gage was swept out to sea. When news of the drowning was received in Wellington, the lighthouse steamer Matai was dispatched with two other assistant-keepers for Cape Man v a. The vessel arrived at the scene of the tragedy yesterday morning, and reached Auckland this morniag with the body of Mrs. Xewson. Mr. Xewson and Mrs. Gage and two children were also brought to Auckland by the steamer. •On arrival at Cape Maria, Captain J. W. Burgess, master of the Matai, took evidence on oath on shore, and later officiated as coroner at an inquest held on his ship on the passage to Auckland. In his rinding concerning the death of Mrs. Xews-on the coroner added a rider commending the dead woman's husband for the heroic efforts he made to save his wife's life.

Saw Wave Coming. At the time of the tragedy Mr. and Mrs. Xewson and Mr. Gage were fishing |"on the seaward side of the small island on which the lighthouse is built. It appears that Mrs. Newson saw a moderate sea coming up a break in the rocks, known as "The Dock," and, after shouting a warning to her companions, ran some distance away from where she was fishing. The sea proved to be much larger than anticipated, and both Mr. I Xewson and Mr. Gage were swept into the sea. Mr. Xewson succeeded in scrambling back on to the rocks, and, on seeing Mr. Gage still in the water, ran to get a fishing line to throw to his companion. On returning to the rocks a few seconds later he saw his wife, whom previously he had thought had succeeded in reaching safety before the wave broke, floating in the water. Horrified at seeing that his wife had also been dragged back by the receding wave, Mr. Xewson at once plunged to her assistance, but in the boiling surf his .task proved an extremely hazardous one, and it was not until Mr. Young and his son came to lend a hand that the woman, with the aid of fishing lines, was got back to the rocks. Mrs. Gage, who at the time was unaware that her husband had also been snatched away, also helped in getting Mrs. Xewson's body from the water. Artificial respiration was tried for two hours, but without result. Steamer Helps in Search. Xo further sign was seen of Mr. Gage. It is thought that while Mr. Xewson was running to secure a line he floated further out into "The Dock" and was caught in a strong current, which quickly swept him to sea. A search for Mr. Gage was carried out for some time, but without success. The fact that it was nearly dark made the work more difficult. A passing steamer, believed to have been the Wostport Coal Company's freighter Canopiis, was signalled, and for a time she assisted in the search by turning on

all her cargo lights and by lowering a boat. "All the conditions were against the search," said Mr. Young in his report to the coroner. In his verdict concerning the death of Mrs. Newson, Captain Burgess found that she was accidentally drowned while fishing from the rocks on the west side of Motu Opao Island, generally known aa Cape ilaria van Diemen, on October 14. He added the opinion that there was no blame attachable to anyone. "I would like to highly commend the heroic efforts of deceased's husband. Henry Newson, in trying to save his wife by endeavouring to dive into the boiling surf," stated the coroner in a rider. The chief lighthouse keeper gave the opinion that at the time of the tragedy the sea was fairly suitable for fishing. Boy Helps His Father.

With Mr. Gage lost and Mr. Newson deeply affected by the death of his wife, much of the work of looking afterthe lighthouse was thrown on to the principal keeper. Mr. Young's son, however, rose to the occasion splendidly, and did all in his power to assist his father. "He did the work of a man from the time of the tragedv until we arrived with Messrs. Mowatt and Roy, the new assistant keepers," said one of the Matai's crew this morning. The channel between the island and the mainland is very treacherous, and often it is days on end before a boat can be used to" cross the channel. When boat work is impossible supplies are sent to the lighthouse by means of an aerial cable. The Matai entered harbour this morning with her ensign at half-mast. She spent only a few hours in port, sailing on her return trip to Wellington at halfpast nine. She will return to Auckland in two or three weeks' time, i\ th e course of her periodical visit to »<ortli Island lighthouses, buoys and beacons. On the arrival of the" Matai at Cape Maria yesterday Mrs. Newson's body was taken on board in a casket made during the steamer's voyage from Wellington. The funeral was held this afternoon.