BEACH TRAGEDY.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18457, 11 August 1925, Page 11

BEACH TRAGEDY.

CHILDREN TRAPPED BY TIDE.

-MANY SWEPT TO SEA.

(bt cable— fbess association—corrsiairr.) (acstsauax akd k.z. cable association.) PAEIS, August 9. A bathing disaster of a most shocking character occurred at the seaside, where 35 small children, whose parents worked in Eoubaix factories, were enjoying a treat, in chargo of Father Dclaporte. The Father warned the children that the tido wa3 rising, and some tried to take a short cut to the sand dunes, but were caught by the incoming tide, and fell into a deep hollow among the shifting sands. Father Delaporte and two men plunged into the sea and reseued several, who Were in an unconscious state. Other onlookers made fruitless attempts at rescues. Later, eight children recovered consciousness, but at least IS were drowned.

The land in the locality is most deceptive. It often appears flat when the total rise and fall measure's soveral feet. It alters with every tide when the sea is rough.

, When Father Delaporte saw the danger ho called to the children to make a* chain by holding each other's hands and to follow him. Unfortunately, the chain broke, and the children, seized with panic, dashed frantically into the water, which lay between them and the dry land, though several feet deep. Some boys were carried out to sea by tho tide, and their bodies were thrown ashore later in the day. Priests worked upon some of the apparently-drowned children for three hours before they recovered consciousness. All the dead were boys.

There were shocking scenes when the parents, hearing of tho disaster, hurried to the Chapolle Ardente, at Hardest, not knowing whether they would have to identify their own children.