Accidental Death Is Coroners Verdict In Devonport Tragedy

Northern Advocate, 10 May 1939, Page 8

Accidental Death Is Coroners Verdict In Devonport Tragedy

[S]jeciat to “Northern Advocate ” 3 AUCKLAND, This Day. rpnE STORY OF THE TRAGIC END TO WEDDING CELEBRATIONS ON 1 THE NIGHT OF APRIL 11 WAS UNFOLDED BEFORE THE CORONER, >IR F. K. HUNT, AT THE INQUEST HELD TO-DAY INTO THE DEATHS OF TWO YOUNG WOMEN. ONE'-A BRIDESMAID AND THE OTHER A GUEST AT THE FESTIVITIES. The victims, who were trapped in a motor car which plunged into the harbour from the Devonport Vehicular Ferry landing, were Miss Elizabeth Maude Swanston, aged 21, daughter of Mr and Mrs R. N. K. Swanston, of Takapuna, and Miss Margaret Mary Beale, aged 29, daughter of Mr J. B. Beale, of Tauranga. Miss Swanston was a bridesmaid at the w r edding.

Driver’s Testimony. James Ross Faulkner, company manager, of Matakana Island, Tauranga, said he was aged 30, and had held a driving license since he was 18. On the evening of April 11 he attended a j wedding at Devonport, and later the ' reception at Takapuna. At about 10.45 p.m., he left to drive four other guests to Auckland. Miss Beale occupied the front seat between Mr Baron and witness, while Miss Swanston and Mr Crump were in the back seat. ‘When we reached the ferry wharf, the Devonport ferry had just left. I stopped the car at the end of the trafific lane on the wharf, and bought tickets for the car and passengers. I asked the collector when the next boat was leaving, and he said in about aquarter of an hour. The time was then just after 11 o’clock. Mr Baron left the car and went to a telephone box. While he was away, another ferry came in and a line of cars came off. Suggestion by Ladies,

seemed to him a perfectly simple thing’to have two great arms or gates at the head of the ramp, which could be closed after the ferry had left the wharf. Mr Hunt considered that those in authority should forthwith take some steps to guard against the possibility of such accidents in future, and, if necessary, to have a man on duty' there, particularly at night. The coroner added that the young men were to be commended for the great efforts they made to save the victims.

Both counsel for the relatives expressed satisfaction that no blame at all was attached to the driver of the car.

“Mr Crump left the car to tell Baron, the ladies remaining in the car. When this ferry came in, the ladies suggested we should catch it without waiting for the other passengers, as at that hour of the night the service was rather infrequent.

“They said that if the others missed the ferry they could catch a passenger boat and we could pick them up in Auckland. After the last car had left the ferry, I waited! a little time to see if the others returned before driving on to the ferry. I saw no stop sign at the top of the ramp, and drove down in low gear. The ferry appeared to be at the platform, and I did not see any “stop” signal across the ramp.

Over the End of the Ramp. “I then felt a bump, and this must have been caused by the car running on to the apron at the end of the ramp. The car was over the end of the ramp before I realised that the ferry was not there. “Someone called ‘Open the doors.’ I cannot say how far off the ferry was when the car went over. I thought all the time the ferry was at the ordinary place at the end of the ramp. “My car sank to the bottom. I tried to open the door on my side, but could not, and the water came in. I held my breath as long as I could, and then swallowed some water; I tried to kick the windscreen out, but could not do so. I also leaned over and tried to open the rear door on the driver’s side, but could not. Struggle to Open Doors. ! I finally got out of the car through the window on my side, which was open, and then I opened that door and again tried to open the rear door on the driver’s side, but could not, as it was catching on a pile. “At this stage I could not hold on any longer, and I came to the surface, where I was pulled out of the water by someone. I wanted to go down again, but onlookers prevented me from doing so. Crump and Baron dived repeatedly.

Perfectly Sober. “I was perfectly sober all the even-

ing.” Mr P. Jenkins (counsel for witness); Your lights were burning? Witness: Yes. Mr Jenkins: You have been driving ail kinds of cars for many years, haven’t you? Witness: Yes. Witness added that he had driven this car before. An Untrue Story

The witness Faulkner said he certainly would not have driven on to the ramp if he had not seen a light burning.

Senior Sergeant Dunford: It is alleged by some busybodies that on the day you drove to attend the wedding you had an accident between Tauranga and Auckland. Is that true? Witness: That is not so.

Several other witneses were called, including Messrs Baron and Crump, who described the efforts made by diving to release the imprisoned victims.

Coroner’s Comment A verdict that the death of the two young women was due to accidental drowning through the car in which they were travelling going over the end of the ramp, was returned by the coroner, who said that the accident was most tragic and unfortunate. It was not for him to say whether any blame was attachable to anyone, but he was going to .add a rider to the effect that whether a warning light was burning or not, or whether the warning notices were sufficiently distinct or not, did not matter. The accident clearly proved that the signs were not sufficient to guard the public against such occurrences. It s