BOATING FATALITY.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 14437, 25 October 1917, Page 3

BOATING FATALITY.

SAD TERMINATION GP HOLIDAY OUTING.

DEATH OF MRiJ R, I. BELL, NARROW ESCAPES AND BRAVE RESCUE WORK. A sad sequel to a picnic np the river occurred m Oibariie yesterday afternoon^- ami . ttnuinatrci m a ruarmd woman. Nfis Hubert I. Bell, Iteing drowned. It appears that Mr and Mrs* Bell, who were staying witlu Mr and Airs ,Tohn : Stevenson, of Salisbury road, Victoria Township, went with a party m a small rowing boat up the river, and on attempting to land on the Waikanae beach, when returning home, the boat was caught broadside m a breaker and overturned. The occupants, including the two women, two men, and the infant child of Mrs Stevenson, were precipitated into the water, freeing what had occurred, a lady eye-witness, who was on the beach at. the, time, acquainted a nearby 'resident, MrR. Morse. The latter immediately w^nt to the rescue with a life line, having only discarded hin coat. Stevenson could "swim. but. had clambered m the boat which had righted itself, although half-filled with water, and he. was holding the baby. On reaching the boat Morse offered to take the child, and when it was being passed the boat again capsized, and tfie baby and the two men w-ere struggling underneath it. However, Morse finally succeeded m carrying the baby close enough to shoi*e for another rescuer to bring it m, and hefreturned to the scene of the disaster. Mr Bell was next broughit ashore, m an exhausted condition, despite a pitiful reluctance on his part to leave his wife. Mr Victor Archibald also dashed iyito the water, very quickly, and got hold of Mrs' Stevenson, who was then m a bad way, and she was brought iii as soon as possible. ;" jln the meantime a. number of assist-.-, ants, including Messrs J. Gilchrist. Q.I O. PSessee, R. G. PTesse, F. Gray, andj A. Cbleman, hurried to the scene, an,dK assisted to bring Mrs Stevens^ ashore. . By this time Mrs Bell hSd completely^ disappeared, and although, several swiipmers went out and searched the locality, they could only find pieces of the unfortunate woman's clothing floatine about. „ Artificial respiration had to be resortto m the case of Mrs Stevenson, Mr A. Gleave others assisting m this work, which proved effective. One of the rescuers — Mr Gilchrist — had tq be.assfs^ed ashore m an exhausted condition." Mr Gilchrist's action m going out was very plucky, having regard to his r "physical condition. Some years ago he, had suffered from rheumatic .fever," and though he had been a strong swimmer, it was inadvisable for lum to rush into the surf as/he did. and the effect of the . exertion and the' cold water soon became -evident after he had done .■»hat.h© could to help. Immediately advice was received by the police, '^Sonstabl© Fischer commissioned a fishing launch lying at the wharf, and went out to the overturned boat., which was floating off the beach nbout iO chains out, and the body was discovered a few feet away, floating face downward. The body -was pulled on 'tioard and .artificial respiration commenced at once, and was subsequently l continued under the direction of,, Dr .' Tieeve. At 6 p.m.* the National Reserve Ambulance Detachment took *np the task, under . the instructions/of Mr .T. H. Ormorid, and continued relays until 9 p.m., when further, attempts were . reluctantly abandoned as hopelpss. Th'e boat was kept, on the beachy and it is understood there were nine people m, the. party originally, the womenfolk having been picked Tip at the jetty by the Kaiti bridge. On returning the majority of the passengers were landed on "the groyne, and the wives of tho two men suggested going right round to tho beach with their husbands, the sea being appai'ently so calm. Mr and Mrs Bell had only recently returned to Gisborne, he being a returned soldier, and has wife was a "Rcvl C-voslr nurse m an army hospital before their marriage. The baby was m a low condition when broueht ashore, but with careful medical attention soon recovered. « Mr Bell was m a low condition, anil it was considered inadvisable for him to attend the r/iquest this afternoon. According to one of the members of the party thiey went for a picnic on tfie Wairaata river, the party comprising Mr and Mrs Stevenson, and Mrs. Stevenson (senr.), and Mr and Mrs Bell. They returned .to the post office at 3.45 p.m., and continued down the river. Some of the party got off at the groyne, but Mesdames Stevenson and Bell decided to keep to the boat, as the water was very calm, Mrs Stevenson (senr.) and others walking along the beach. When opposite Mr Stevenson's house (between Grey street and the leading light) they decided to land, but suddenly a large breaker came and swamped the boat, and another wave turned ] the 'boat upside down, throwing all the occupants out. l^cjteji' is' stated' to have hung on 'to l fflh' : '#ffi-?p&JsX*s Stevenson until exhausts?; ':'. f / * "if ■'■ An jiwuestrc&ncerimng the fatality was held aj^jEhe'' Courthouse this afternoon before Mr W. A. Barton., S.M 1 ., district coroner. — Sergeant Clarkson represented the police. ■ John Stevenson, printer, 22 Salisbury road, deposed that yesterday morning at 10.30 they went out boating. Mr Bell and himself launched the boat on the Waikanae beach through the breakers, afterwards picking up Mrs Bell, Mrs Stevenson and two daughters, Mrs Stevenson (senr.), and two sisters. They went up the Waimata as far as the island. Returning m the afternoon, they reached the steps opposite the signal station at 4 o'clock. They all <*ot out there except Mr Bell and witness but Mrs Bell said she would like to go over the breakers fnS persuaded witness' wife (Mrs Stevenson) to go also. They went to the end of the groyne and the sea looked calm so they went on, making for straight .opposite witness residence. They' turned the bow of the boat towards the beach and were keeping up to dodge the seventh (large) j breaker. They had got a short distance irt when a large breaker came at the back and swamped the boat. ' The boat was washed on m front of the breaker, and a strong backwash turned the boat over. AH the occupants were thrown into the sea. When, he came to the surface the first thing he saw was his child, aged five months. He got the child and made for the boat, which had righted itself, and was full of water. He stood up and called for help, and on looking round he saw Mr. Bell, apparently holding up the two ladies (deceas«d and Mrs. Stevenson). He called to ■witness to jump m, but witness could not, as he had the child m his arms. He tried to tie the child m the stern of the boat, but could not do so on account of the force of the breakers. One of the rescuers (Mr. Morse) came to the bow of the boat and he handed the child. . « PJunging into, the ', wator agaia'-^tn&s; jnet .Bell w.ater, and asking'" him' 4 where ',tlte' 3ad-«s were, '.he could not answer;' being apparently exhausted. Getting a few strokes ahead he saw his wife about three breakers^ Away. She was fls?tin)£ fact} downwards when he reached he£., Turning • Her. fa,qe up he got her as far as the boat, and the last he remembered was someone seizing him by the shoulder. He regained consciousness and found hitnself on the beach. There was then no sign of deceased. Witness's mother, two aisteri. and his eldest daughter (aged 2 years) "got out' at the grbyne. Sergt. Clarkson,: Did ypu, think Ihei'e was any danger m going out over the bar?— Well, no; Mi". Bell did not, and he was an experienced oarsman. Hig \Vorship : But what did you thfak?— -As far as I knew it was easy and safe.

There appeared to be no danger? — No. Mrs Stevenson, wife of Robert Steveneon, of: Salisbury road, stated that, yesterday, morning she weiit v with her son (last witness)" his wife and two children, his .two daughters, together with Pri» vate and Mrs Bell. Witness deposed to having the picnic on the island, and that on returning to the , groyne steps they jill got out except her' son and Private

Bell. They talked of taking them out over the bar, but -vritnecs .^aid she "was frightened. Mrs Bell and -vritness' son's wito and baby got into tho boat, and went over the bar round to the beach, and witness' daughters", grandchild | and herself going along the beach. It looked very calm, and they watched the boat coming along. When opposite the ladies' bathing shed she saw a big breaker | coming m. They could see the boat -was being held back "to allow it to pass* She then r.aw another biu on<? cominp, and it appeared to go. right over tht> boat. 'The oars went- up and the occupants were ttirnwu into tho water. "" (Proceeding.) ' t&&y*t«mt m i' mi i ' n"»t?