THE TITAHI BATHING FATALITY.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16701, 9 December 1919, Page 7

THE TITAHI BATHING FATALITY.

« MB DEOMGOOL'S FIGHT FOB LIFE (PRESS ASSOCIATION* TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON, December 8. Particulars in connection with tho drowning of Patrick Dromgool show that members of a picnic party were swimming in tho breakers at Titahi Bay, and two ladies got into difficulties. After assisting in the rescue of one Dromgool proposed to help with tho other, v.ho was being brought in with some diiliculty by J. Neil, a constable. Neil tried to dissuade him, saying it was unnecessary, but Diomgool persisted, and was last seen by Neil as tho latter turned on his back exhausted to float. The defeased, who was a solicitor in the Public Trust Office, win about thirty-five years of age, and was only recently married. Tlit accident was vcrv nearly a tragedy on a large scale. Theie was a heavy ;-oa with a strong backwash, and several of the bathers had great diiliculty in fighting their way to shore. Two of them had a forty-five minutes' struggle, and foi a time the condition of several, after they were brought out. was serious, particularly Constable Neil. Tho absence of a life lino was partly responsible for the diiliculty of rescue. 15PECIM, TO "TflE rr.KSS."> WELLINGTON, December S. Tho bathing fataiily at Titahi Hay. ;i week-end resort on the West beyond Porirna yesi,v. le-1 to excit'ie; scenes. Mr P. Dromgool, a Public Trust Office .solicitor, who was drowned was verv weil kno.'.'n ::i.d nt h! in higii esteem by a large circle of friends and acquaintances. He v.as married nin< '.iicutlis ago to Mi:-s M. GoMintr, <»! l'hri'tch;:rch. His wife was wiih bin' yesterday and witnessed tile sa< scene. At one time it seemed ns if therr w".s evew probability of further oi life. "Three irirls were the first tr washed nfT their feet."' says thr •'Times" corrt spor.dent. '"No snore] hnd thev raised their eri"s for assi.-t-a nee than noarlv a dozen men weni to the rescue. The sea l.ufieted mr.n\ of the ladies, and the sce::e became I thrilling one. A number '">1 well oul of their depth. and it looked a.-, ii several lives uoidl be lost. Mr P DromTOo! was f v«t 1 e*'eved in be ir danger until it was soon that ho wa: son" 1 distance from 11,.• _ and ii difficulties. Every possible effort wa: then made to reach him, but :t va; useless. A returned soidi r T and anothei man endeavoured to laun"h :i snial boat, but the ro-'cli sea lmme-i-ateh eat sliu*d it. lUr Dromgool strugg.ec manfu'lv. but the elements were toe strong." Tie fmr.iht bard, but could not reach «afetv mid disappeared, thou-.;? he was swimming at the timo. Soir< e-iid be was dashed on n rock ant stunned. It was a terrible morne-i' to seo o strong man frrhting tor lm and no one in a portion or able t' nstict him. A suit-hie hte'ir.e woulr pro'>nblv have prevented the accident.' beach is known as a dannerou: one under s :ch conditions of wind ant tide as prevailed yesterday.