TRAGEDY AT CAPE MARIA

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19625, 20 October 1933, Page 14

TRAGEDY AT CAPE MARIA

FURTHER PARTICULARS. By Tel egraDh—Press Association AUCKLAND, October 19. A 12 year-old boy was called in to assist his father In the work of looking after the Cape Maria lighthouse, following a drowning tragedy there last Saturday, according to the story told on the return of the Government lighthouse steamer, Matai. The boy. Donald Young, a son of the head lightkeeper, helped his father for three days until the Matai arrived with two assistant keepers. The Matai brought back the body of Mrs Minnie E. Newson. Mrs Gage, widow of Frederick Gage, and Mr Newson also came by the steamer. Captain Burgess, as Coroner, held an Inquest on the ship, and In returning a verdict of drowning, commended the dead woman’s husband for his heroic efforts to save her life. It appears that at the time of the tragedy, Gage and the Newsons were fishing. Mrs Newson saw a big wave coming and shouted to her companions to run. Both Newson and Gage were swept into the sea. Newson scrambled out and ran to get a fishing line to throw to Gage. On returning a few moments later he was horrified to see his wife also In the wr‘;r. He plunged Into the boiling surf but it was not until Mr Young and his son arrived that the woman was rescued. No furher sign was seen of Gage and artificial respiration when employed on Mrs Newson failed.