TWO MEN DROWNED

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 102, 30 March 1929, Page 8

TWO MEN DROWNED

CAUGHT BY HUGE WAVE. SWEPT OFF BREAKWATER. Per Press Association. NEW PLYMOUTH, March 29. Two men fishing on the Breakwatef at the port of New Plymouth were swept oft by a huge wave this morning and drowned. They were:— ALBERT THERKLESON, engineer, employed at a foundry, aged 29, married, with four children. ERNEST EDWARD THOMAS, roadroller driver, employed by the Borough Council, aged about 30, married, with one child. The bodies had not keen recovered this evening. The breakwater which shelters the harbour is a wide concrete wall jutting nearly half a. mile into the sea. This morning heavy seas driven by the westerly ivind were crashing over the wall at intervals. The two men gained the end of the breakwater by dodging the waves. A number of people who saw them realised their danger, but could do nothing in time to avert disaster. At the extreme end of the wall the men, although drenched, were seen to commence fishing- Within a few ■ minutes a huge wave crashed upon th© pier sweeping both men into the seething water. Two boys, paddling a canoe in sheltered water, went out and picked up pne man’s hat, and the Harbour Board launch within a few minutes thoroughly searched the locality, but the men were not seen again. Both were experienced fishermen who knew the harbour well, and many residents who liad a full view of the tragedy were amazed at their daring * in attempting to reach the end of the wall. Thomas, distinguishable by his size from Therkleson, was seen to bend down as the wave struck the outei side of the wall, and then he was gent headlong into the foaming water on the harbour side, where it is probable he would strike against the ragged rubble flanking the wall. Therkleson who was standing on a concrete block over the end of the wall, was simply smothered in the frothing waves. LITTLE BOY’S DEATH. FALL INTO RIVER. Per Press Association. INVERCARGILL, March 29. A verdict of drowning by accidentally falling into the Makarewa River was returned by the Coroner in the inquest concerning the death of—Robert Duff, aged 11, who was missed from Ins home on Thursday, March 21. apd whose body was found in the Makarewa River last Tuesday. David Bissett Duff, father of deceased said that his son usually crossed the river in a cradle swung on a wire cable between two pulleys. Three other children had crossed over before, and his son had to pull the cradle back to his side. A breakage in the cradle was reported by another boy and when witness went down to the bank he saw deceased’s bag there, and the cradle half-way across the stream with the hand rope swinging in the water. , The cable and cradle had been in use for About six years, and although a foot bridge had since been erected, a mile further away, his children preferred us ; ng the cradle. Witness thought that deceased, in pulling the cradle back from the other side, had ' slipped and faljen into the river, which was in floocl when the rope broke. ■>