NEW BRIGHTON FATALITY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 27 November 1924, Page 5

NEW BRIGHTON FATALITY.

TWO MEN DROWNED. GALLANT RESCUE EFFORTS. (By TELEGRAPH— -PEESS ASSOCIATION. CHRISTCHURCH, Nov. 26. Two young men, one of Avhom is named Clarence E. Scholfield, of Auckland, were drowned iu the surf at North N©ay Brighton this afternoon'. The name of the other victim is not known.

Scholfield was a commercial traveller, employed by Nathan and Co., of Auckland, and his mother resides in Parnell. It is thought that he got into difficulties While trying to save an unknoAvn man, whose body ha 6 not yet been recovered. .

Scholfield Avas brought ashore after a big struggle in the surf, but. efforts to resuscitate him failed, although his rescuers believe that life was not extinct when he was laid on the beach. Both meii undressed in a bathing shed at 11 a.m., and went out on to the sands. About 12,45 p.m. a woman who was standing oil the beach heard cries and saiv someone in difficulties. Scholfield went out to the assistance of the , man? who was some distance from the shore. On the alarin being' given H. Ronaldson, a motor salesman, and a friend also plunged ih and reached Scholfield, who had given up hope, and was saying: “I’m done, I’m done.”

As the undercurrent and channels made progress difficult, Ronaldson’s companion swam back for a life line, Ronaldson keeping Scholfield up. Through no other . swimmer being on the 'beach the other man, who was considerably exhausted, had to return with the line. Scholfield - gripped the belt and was hauled to within 15 yards of the shore, where he seemed to collapse and had to be carried out. A doctor tried for an\ hour to restore respiration, but without success. The rescuers saiv no sign of the other man, and it is surmised that his body was swept out and down the beach. A slight clue of his identity is a mourning pocket handkerchief marked Mrs Burns. Later information states that the name of the missing man may be Alexander Wilford Anderson, who boarded at 700 Gloucester street in the city. He has not returned to the house since leaving it this morning. The description given of hie clothes to .the. NeAV. Brighton police this evening tallies with, the unclaimed garments in their possession. i The news will cause a feeling of. real sadness to tennis players in Haiwera, Avhen it is remembered that at the opening tournament of the Park Club last month, .Soholfield oame out the winner of the men’® singles. He was then on. hi© way through Taranaki. By his good play and hi® happy temperament he created a capital impression on everyone he met, and it is certain that he would rapidly become popular in any community where he - settled. All the local players who knew him \v‘ere looking, forward keenly to meeting him once more in Hawera. Their sympathy will,go out to his bereaved mother.