THE COOGEE SURF TRAGEDY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1046, 8 February 1911, Page 5

THE COOGEE SURF TRAGEDY.

CORONER'S INQUEST. NEED FOR PERMANENT LIFE- _ SAVERS,. By Telegraph-Press Association-Copyright Sydney, February 7. At nn inquest concerning the drowning of four men—Joseph M'Giath, lieorgc Mnckie, Sydney Hnrdy, and. David A. Wilron—on tho Coogco Beach (one of Sydney'.'' favourite watering-places) on January 28, the Coroner, in recording a verdict of accidental death, suggested the appointment of permanent life-savers on bathing bcachcs. HOW THE FOUR LIVES WERE LOST. GALLANT IiKSCUK WORIC. Oil Saturday morning. January 8. a surf tragedy, resulting in tho loss of four lives, occurred on tho Coogeo beach. "Tho drea'dful scene (fays tho "Sydney Morning Herald") will long bo remembered by the 100 or more spectators who stood demoralised and useless on tho beach. But for two strong, plucky men —Harold llaker, tho, swimtner,. and Jiui darken, tho footballer—tho 'surf w°''M have claimed' 13 victims, lor. ocdly enough, there were just an unlucky 13 in difficulties. . • . "Baker and Clarken were .lying on the sand having a chat when the unhappy moraint came. Tho night beforo Baker had planted u danger iiag near a particularly perilous spot. In .« lino with tho flag was a channel running out to sea, ploughed by storm waters emptying on the Coach. Tho unfortunate 13, mostly all girls, were perilously near tho danger point, and Baker noticed than. Calling upon Clarken, the pair went down to warn the bathers. But scarcely had they started when tho l whole of tho surfing party sb'pped into the channel.

Screams for Help. "As the girls (felt themselves hey shrieked and screamed for help, tho uea joiiiitiff with hoprso cries. All was nstnntly confusion. . Tho majority of hoso oil. tho beach were paralysed ami [unib with tho horror of the thing:. Ithers moved about excitedly calling for lid. But liono lent any savo tho two turdy athletes, and somo others who lecame stimulated to action later. "Baker did the sprint of his life. Quickies of perception was followed by quickiess of decision. Like a thing possessed lis burly form was seen tearing down 0 the surf, scattering tho sand .in all liiections. Tho paralysed spectators rerained tliei,- sense somewhat at this sudlen exhibition of vitality, aud raised a lifer as he sped- by. "There was no time (o think of disrobng. Baker just plunged headlong into hp surf, clothes and all, scattering the rater as ho scattered tho sand. Soon he ras moving rapidly .towards tho distressed urfers with great, powerful overarm trokes. Then ho was 6een to riso on he top of a wove and grab something. V cloud of spray obscured the view for o noment. Tho next showed him making Mck for tho shore, supporting tho limr 'orm of a girl, strongly and safely beyonJ ill question. Ho brought her into shallow water, and tho crowd then got hei ishore. An Awful Scene. "Baker saved the first girl in'less tim< than it takes to relate tho incident flieu he dashed back to assist tho rest tearing his clothes off on*tho way, ant leaving them in deep water. It was nt time for mock-modesty.. All tho reservi force of tho rescuer bad to bo summoned Lfo bad a herculean job ahead of him and realised it. "Tho remaining 12 surfers were in thi direst plight. Their, strength was fas leaving them, and the sea was rough The waves beat tlieni about mercilcsslv and clouds of spray confused them. Ii the midst of their confusion Baker, rc appeared among them. - There was.-jn stoutly a chorus of 'Savo me!' from th< girls. .Ono girl shouted distractedly 'Mother, mother!' Somo of flio men wcri calling on their God. ' All were helpless hopeless. Tho ono ' calm' mind wat Baiter's. "Three of tho girls immediately spranp upon Baker, and gripped him round tlii neck. Tho whole, four went under, one there was a terrible submarine struggle Baker thought it was nil tip «n(h the !o of them. But lie had saved his strength and by a supreme effort, wrenched him self free. Tliou, with tho quickness o decision which characterised his actioi all through tho rescue work, he gathe'rei the thrcn girls in his arms before the; had a chance to clutch him again. I war. a successful bid for/three lives, fo at the critical moment Clatkson Teachci Baker with the lifeline. But even tlici tho splendid effort nearly miscarried b( cause, tho crowd 011 the beach started I haul the line in too soon., However darken managed to si niggle on with it and Baker gallantly held on to tho tbre girls. In this manner they were saved aud the crowd sent up another cheer. A Brave Girl. "Ono bravo girl was left, behind whil the threo wora taken ashore. 'I will conl back for you,' said Baker. /Just try an' bo cool, and take things calmly till can get back. Tho girl had seen thc otlio. lives saved and she. felt sure that tho rescucr would keep his 'word. So in spito of spray and breakers sho used her last strength to krep herself nfloat, 200 yards away from tho shore, though sho was in the midst of drowned and drowning men. "Baker kept his promise' to the distressed girl, llis energy seemed endless, and his strength tirolessi The powerful overarm strokes did not diminish iu tho least degree. For the tliird timo he jet out to cover (he 200 yards. Now au'* again a wave would swallow him up, an it was thought that ho had gone. _ Bi on the top of the water, as- under it, li swam along just tho same, and kept lib pace. Each disappearance was followed by his reappearance, tearing through the water, arm over arm. towards the helpless, drowning girl. Jin reached her when tho limit of her strength had come. 'Save inc!' she gasped, and, then, '0, Mother! Baker got her on his back, and swam with her to tho shore, amid the plaudits of the crowd. An Exciting Struggle. "Clnrken also did praiseworthy work, and wn* instrumental in saving a number of lives. But for his timely appearance with the life line Baker could never liivc held on to the three girls he rescued iu a bunch. With one girl darken had a trying experience.' Jle swam out to her assistance, and she'got him in a vice-like grip. All tho theorotical rules for getting from the clutch of a drowning person wero tried in vain. The girl could not bo shaken off, and seemed bent on dragging Clarkou to tlw bottom of the sea with itch Tho predicament of the rescuer was acute. Ho linted to do it But iu order In save her he had to administer something in tho-nature of ? knock-out blow. Ho was then able tc bring tho girl into shore, and slu> wui liono the worse for lior experience." The victims of the tragedy were: Josepl: M'tlrath (2."> years of age), tramway lab otiror, of Miller Street, North Sydney. George Jtackio (28), tram conductor, ; Trafalgar Street, I'etersham. 1 David Andrew Wilson, of Luko Street, C Sydney Hardy (12), of Belmoro Itoad, Riiiidwick. _________