TRAGIC PLUNGE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23320, 13 April 1939, Page 13

TRAGIC PLUNGE

HARBOUR ACCIDENT RECOVERY OF BODIES MOTOR-CAR RAISED OPENING OF INQUEST The tragio circumstance which led Mr. Ross Faulkner to drive along the staging at tho Devonport Wharf in an attempt to catch a ferry-boat which ho did not know was then pulling away vas-told yesterday after an inquest had been opened into tho deaths, of Miss Elizabeth Maude Swanston and Miss Margaret Beale. The two young women were drowned when Mr. Faulkner's niotor-car dropped into the harbour at about 11.15 on Tuesday night after they had attended a wedding at Devonport. With Mr, Noel Crump, who was a close friend of Miss Swanston, and Mr. Gilbert Baron, of Katikati,' the two young women and Mr. Faulkner left the wedding reception with the intention of going to a suburban cabaret. Th<slr car was closely followed by that of Mr. T. J. Fleming, who yesterday represented Mr. J. B. Beale, father of Miss Beale, at the inquest. . Approach of Ferry

When Mr. Faulkner, who was not familiar with the vehicular ferry service system, arrived at the wharf he found that a ferry had just left for the city. His solicitor, Mr. E. Jenkins, said yesterday that Mr. Faulkner had said he inquired when the next ferry would be leaving and was told that it •would go in about 15 minutes.

Mr. Baron and Mr. Crump got out of Wi'e car, Mr. Baron going to a telephone to ring a friend and Mr. Crump walking back along the wharf to the ticketoffice. Presently a vehicular ferry approached from the city side and discharged its load of cars. Seeing this, it \vas stated, one of the girls suggested to Mr. Faulkner that he should board the ferry and that they could there be caught up by Mr. Crump and Mr. Baron. Failing that, since they did not know how long the telephone call would take, it was suggested that the two men could catch a passenger [ferry and be picked up in the "city. T '

Ferries Being Reduced Mr. Faulkner then drove along the etaging. At thrit time the number of Yeliicuiar ferries plying across the harbour was being reduced for late traffic and the boat which had just discharged its cars was pulling away, preparatory to going *o its night berth. Under the system followed, it had finished for the night and the running was then befog taken up by another vessel. Mr. Faulkner was not aware of this.

As the ferry drew away from the Trharf the apron at the end of the staging was raised about 2ft. from the decking of the ship, according to a driver who followed closely after Mr. Faulkner. This driver also stated yesterday afternoon that the light at the 6hore end of the staging was not working on Tuesday night. He did not know if the "Stop" disc had been swung out.

Rescue Attempts Fail Mr. Faulkner drove up the slight incline and could 'not stop when he found that the ferry was not still at the berth. The car, a heavy, four-door model, fell about 10ft. or 12ft. into the harbour. Mr. Faulkner made vain efforts to open a door. Then water hegan to come in through open windons and he swallowed some. After that his attempts to open the door became instinctive, and he does not know exactly when he floated clear of the car.

By this time Mr. Crump, who had come back to the staging to board the ferry, had been told that the car had plunged into the harbour. With Mr. Baron and Mr. Faulkner he began diving to release'the two girls. Several times Mr. Crump touched the car, but none of the men was able to overcome the pressure of water at the harbour bottom. When they finally desisted, after what others described as heroic efforts, they were all near exhaustion. Coroner's Inspection Efforts to release the two victims and raise the car were continued by police officers, Auckland Harbour Board officials' and divers -until about 5.30 yesterday morning, when they finally succeeded in recovering the bodies. Three doors were open when the car came to the surface. When the inquest was opened, Mr. Uobert Newton-King Swanston, of Takapima, and Mr. James Bruce Beale, of Tauranga, fathers of the girls, gave evidence that they Saw their daughters immediately before Mr. Faulkner s party left 'the wedding reception. All fi>'e persons in the car, they said, were Quite sober. The inquest was adjourned for about three weeks after formal evidence, and later the coroner, Mr. F. K. Hunt, visited the l'crry staging and inspected the warning devices. Later in the afternoon workmen attended to the light the shore end. „ The funeral of Miss Swanston will be field to-day at O'Neill's Point Cemetei'v. Miss Beale's body is to be taken to Tauranga to-morrow and the funeral 'will be held there in the afternoon.