FATALITY AT MOTURUA.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXIII, Issue 36, 18 February 1901, Page 2

FATALITY AT MOTURUA.

MAN DROWNED WHILE FISHING. About 10.30 on Sunday morning a sad fatality occurred at Moturoa, whereby Mr. J. S. Hart, gunsmith of Devon-street, was washed off the "Flat." rock, where he was fishing. He was on the Hikotahi side, about midway down the rock, another man being on the opposite side, which is much higher. W. McKay and bis father were near at hand, but were not fishing, as they considered the sea was too rough, waves occasional y breaking across the rock.

The son caw a laige wave come over the rock fiom the westward and carry Hart, who was facing the opposite direction, off his feet into the water. Mr. McKay, senior, at ooce rushtd on to the rocjr and flung out his fishing | line in the hop 9 of beii g able to haul j up the body, having eeeu for a second j a glimpse of the hair of the unfortunate i man's head, but was unsuccessful, and never ctught sight of the body after. He 8f nt his son to the wharf to give the alarm, and several men quickly went to the spot. On the way along the be.ch Hart's hat was picked up. No time was lost in starting to drag for the body, but up to a late heuf last night it had not been recovered. The sea was too rough to permit of a boat being used at this dangerous spit, It. is assumed that while being washt>d off he must have been thrown backwards, bringing his head in contac" with the rock and been stunned, as no struggle was made in the water and had he not been injured in that way, the distance from tin shore being only ■ about 50 yards, it is probable be weuld have made an eflort to reach it. The greatesr sympathy is felt for Mrs Hart who with her la'a husband are comparatively recent arrivals here, but during this time Mr Hart, who was 26 years of age, has been in business he has earned the rispect and esteem of every one in the district with whom he has been brought in contact, and had rapidly acquired a large and continually iooreasing business owing to the care, energy snd skill which he displayed. This is the third fatality which has happenad in recent years at this dangerous spot, which seems to require some warning board to caution the public of the peril incurred by fishing there.