DROWNED AT TOMAHAWK

Evening Star, Issue 14002, 8 March 1909, Page 5

DROWNED AT TOMAHAWK

On Saturday afternoon, about halfpast four, Mr Alexander Maxwell, aged twenty-three, son of Mr Henry Maxwell, Registrar of Births, etc., was drowned whilst bathing off the Tomahawk Beach. The deceased, who was a chemist in the employ of Mr F. Wilkinson at the Stafford street shop, went with his brother Henry (employed at A. and T. Burt's) and several friends of the family for a picnic at the beach, and the two brothers entered the water together nearly opposite tho lagoon. They knew the place, having swum there on previous occasions; in fact, Alexander once had a job to reach the shore after getting into the edge of the current. But he was an expert and strong swimmer, with plenty of confidence, and on Saturday neither had a fear of danger on taking to the water. As they went out beyond the wading depth Henry lost his teeth, and dived to recover them. Meanwhile Alexander went out a bit farther. When Henry rose to the surface he saw his brother some twenty yards seaward, and shouted to him to come in. As he called a big comber rolled in, and Henry saw Alexander rise in it. Henry ducked as the roller reached him, and when he came up again Alexander had disappeared Henry at once swam out a bit to look for*his brother, and kept on till he found himself being caught in the strong ebb tide. Then he realised that he was helpless and could do nothing, and he struck out for the shore just in the nick of time, for it needed all Jus strength to fight his way to a footing, and by the time his feet touched the sand he was so exhausted that he had to scramble ashore on his hands and knees. It is supposed, and the supposition is the only feasible one, that Alexander was suddenly disabled by cramp, and thus sank in the strong tide Constable Rings and the father or the deceased have since headed search parties to watch the rocks and the beaches, and a diligent lookout has been kept from St. Clair to the Ota™ Heads but so far nothing has been seen o* the body. The sympathy of the public is being freely tendered to •A- rs Wa;nvel l and their family in this distressing occurrence. Alexander was a young man of high promise and much respected by all who knew