SURF-BATHING DISASTER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14567, 2 January 1911, Page 6

SURF-BATHING DISASTER.

FOUR PEOPLE DROWNED.

CAUGHT IN A SWIRL.

HORSEMEN RESCUE SIX PEOPLE.

Further particulars of the surf-bathing disaster that occurred on Monday at Moonoe, a holiday resort between Woolgoolga and Coif's Harbour (N.S.W.), when four young people were drowned, show that at one time about a dozen bathers wore struggling in the current i.i clanger of their lives. But for the prompt action of some horsemen, who were near by, others would also have been drowned. So far three bodies have been recovered.

A large number of picnickers, mostly strangers to the locality, knowing nothing of the treacherous nature of the surf, were bathing at a spot on the beach which has previously had a dangerous reputation. Most of them wore on a narrow spit of sand which runs out from the shore, and which has a strong current at either side of it.

Suddenly a wave swept about a dozen of them into the current, and in an instant they were being carried rapidly out to sea. They tried to fight their way back, but this was almost impossible.

Tho alarm was immediately given, and some young men on hot es galloped down to the beach, and went in to the rescue. They managed to save six people, named Robert Herd, Richard Hughes,, John McKenzie, John Herd, John Perring,.and Miss May Hughes. , . . ...

These six clung to the stirrup-irons, and. the horses swam back with them; but in the meantime four others had disappeared. Tho search for them was carried on by the horsemen and other swimmers for half an hour, and three bodies were recovered, but all efforts to restore animation failed. The names of the victims were: —

Miss Margaret Herd, 18 years, of Lower Bucca.

Miss Olive Branley McKenzie, 18 years, of Nana Glen.

Miss Heather McKenzie, 16 years, of Nana Glen.

Henry William Taylor, 22 years, of Central Bucca. Some of tho bathers who were rescued were in a serious condition when they "were brought ashore, and one of them, Robert Herd, is still in a very low state, though he is expected to recover.

DROWNING CASES IN VICTORIA. John Blake, a well-known resident of Seymour (Vic.), was drowned in an underground tank at the rear of his business place hist week. It is surmised that he was crossing over it, when, the cover collapsed. Blake was armourer-sergeant to the Seventh Australian Light Horse. He leaves, a -widow and four children. . A young man named Gilliam, residing in. West' Hawthorn, -while camping -with others at Frankston, was drowned off the beach last week in the absence of his mates. It is thought that he was seized with cramps. A young man named Cyril Bishop was drowned on Christmas Day. Bishop, who was employed at the Newport workshops, was the sole support of His mother.