TRAGIC SEQUEL

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 85, 12 April 1939, Page 6

TRAGIC SEQUEL

WEDDING PARTY

TWO WOMEN DROWNED

CAR PLUNGES INTO HARBOUR s

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, April 11

A wedding party" had a tragic sequel tonight when a motor-car' plunged over the end of the vehicular ferry wharf at Devonport inito the harbour. One of the bridesmaikis and a wedding guest were trapped in the car and drowned. The driver, Mr. Ross Faulkner, aged 30, of Matakana Island, Tauranga, escaped.

The victims were bMiss Elizabeth Maude Swanston, aged 21, daughter of Mr. R. N. K. Swanston, retired banker, living at Mon Desir Hotel, Takapuna, and Miss Margaret Beale, aged attbut 25, daughter of Mr. J. B. Beale, solicitor, Tauranga.

After a reception in Takapurna five people left in the car. Apart from the driver, the others were Miss Beale, Miss Swanston, Mr. Gilbert Baron, Katikati, and Mr. Noel Crump, Devonport, the well-known Auckland swimmer. The party intended to return to Auckland by the vehicular ferry. Messrs. Baron and Crump left the car at the ticket office to make a telephone call. The vehicle was travelling to the head of the wharf. The vehicular ferry from Auckland was disembarking cars and when the last of thf line had reached the wharf, Mr. Faulkner thought it was time for him to go on board. However, the ferry had made its last trip for the night and immediately after the last car had left, the ferry moved away from -he landing to go to its berth. As a result the car containing Mr. Faulkner and the two young women fell from the edge of the ramp into 16 ieet of water. Mr. Faulkner succeeded in opening a door and a burst of imprisoned air forced him to the surface. Several times he dived in and attempted to extricate his companions, but his efforts were unavailing and he was later rescued exhausted. I