DROWNING TRAGEDY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20217, 30 March 1929, Page 10

DROWNING TRAGEDY.

TWO MEN LOSE LIVES. STRUCK BY HUGE WAVE. FISHING OK BREAKWATER. NEW PLYMOUTH ACCIDENT. | VAIN-SEARCH FOR BODIES. [r.T TEX.ZCr.APH- —??-!?? ASSOCIATION-] NEW PLYMOUTH, Friday A double drowning accident occurred in New Plymouth Harbour this morning, when two men. who went out to the end of the breakwater to fish, were "washed away and were not seen ags-'n. The vicMr. Albert Therkleson, erginrcr'. acH 23, a married man with four children. Mr. Ernest Edward Thomas. rc-.d-roller driver, employed hv the Borough Council, aged about 50, married, with one child. The bodies had not been 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 a westerly wind were crashing over the wall at intervals. The two men caincd the end of the breakwater by dodging 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, slthoush drenched, were seen to commence fishing. Within a iew minutes a huge wave crashed upon the pier, sweeping both men into the seething water. Two boys, who were paddling a canoe in sheltered water, went out and picked up one man's hat. The Harbour Board launch within a few minutes thoroughly searched the locality, but the men were not seen again. Both were fishermen,_ who knew the harbour well, and many residents who had a full view of the tragedy were amared at their daring in attempting to reach the end of the walh

Mr. Thomas, distinguishable by bis size from Mr. Therkleson, was seen to bend down as the wave struck the outer side of the wall and then as the. flying water struck hirn he was sent headlong into the foaming water on the harbour side, where ii is probable he would strike the ragged rabble flanking the wall. Mr. Therkleson, who was standing on the concrete block over the end of the wail, was simply smothered in the frothing wave.