DOUBLE DROWNING

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 18, 16 October 1933, Page 11

DOUBLE DROWNING

Lighthouse Tragedy SWEPT OFF ROCKS Man and Woman Lose Lives SURVIVOR’S ORDEAL Dominion Special Service. Auckland, October 15. Two persons, a man and a woman, were drowned near the lighthouse at Cape Maria van Dieinan at dusk on Saturday. They were Mrs. Elizabeth Newson, the young wife of one of the assistant lighthouse keepers, and Mr. Frederick Gage, the second assistant keeper. Mrs. Newson is the mother of two small children, and Mr. Gage was a married ntan. At the time of the tragedy Mr. and Mrs. Newson and Mr. Gage were fishing off the rocks of the island on which the lighthouse is situated. High seas had been running for some days past, and suddenly a large wave broke over the rocks and swept all three persons into the sea. Mr. Newson, although somewhat injured, managed to struggle out of the dangerous surf and back to land, and he also succeeded in getting his wife’s body ashore, but it was then too late. Artificial respiration was continued for two hours, but without avail. Mr. Gage’s body has not yet been recovered. There were three families at the lighthouse—Mr. F. Young, the principal keeper, Mr. and Mrs. Newson, and Mr.jjud Mrs. Gage. The Government steamer Matai will leave Wellington at 10 o’clock this morning with two relieving keepers for the lighthouse.