LIGHTHOUSE TRAGEDY

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 95, 19 October 1933, Page 15

LIGHTHOUSE TRAGEDY

DROWNING AT CAPE MARIA

(By Telegraph.—Press. Association.) AUCKLAND,. This Day:- . A twelve-year-old boy was called ij to assist Ms father in the work of look* ing after the Cape Maria Van Diemen lighthouse following the drowning tragedy there last Saturday, according toi the story told on the return of thai Government lighthouse steamer Matai. The boy, Donald Young, son of tji^ head lighthouse-keeper, helped his father for three days until the Matai arrival with two sftsistant keepers. The Matai brought back the body.oi Mrs. Minnie E. Newson. Mrs. Gage, widow of Mr. Frederick Gage, and Mr< Newson, also came by the steamer. ." Captain Burgess, as Coroner, Held- ari inquest on the ship, and in returning a verdict of drowning commended tha dead woman's husband for his heroic efforts to save her life. It appears that fit the time of the tragedy Mr. Gaga and Mr. and Mrs. Newson were fishing. Mrs. Newson saw a big wave coming, shouted to her companions, and Tan. Both Newson and Gage were swept into, the sea. Newson scrambled out and ran >to ' get a. fishing line to throw to Gage, but on returning a few. moments later he was horrified to see his. wife also in the water. He plunged into* the boiling surf, but it was not until Mr. Young and his son arrived that the woman was rescued. No further" sign.l was seen of Gage, and artificial respira* tion employed on Mrs. Newson was nn«. successful. ■ ;