FISHING CATASTROPHE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1639, 4 January 1906, Page 3

FISHING CATASTROPHE.

~ SWEPT AWAY BY A WAVE. 6 An appalling accident, resulting in tbo death of five pt oplo, ooourrod on the aflorncou of Christina* Day, on the back beach of Sorrento, near mom bets of a fishing patty wj»e suddenly swept off tbe rooks into the sba by a huge wave and drowned. Those who lost their lives were Richard O’Donnell, aged 52, of 13, Sot--1 rotb Avenue, Malvern. Alberti O’Dcnnol], aged 23. Arnold O’Donnell, aged 12. Miss Bobo O'Donnell, nged 22. Miss Edith Frazer, of Malvern. With the exception of tho last named, these wore members of a family who had taken a ootlago e.t Sorrento somo two weeks ago. Mrs O'Donnell, tho mother of tho family, had aoaompam'od them to Ssrrooto, but had rtturned borne to Malvern in order to curse Mr O’Donnell’s mother, who is over 90 years of ago. The spot at whioh the accident oooutred was throe miles beyond St. Paul’s Mount, whioh is a little over a mile from the baok be ash terminus o'i tbe Sorrento tramway. Tho locality is known to bo dangerous. The fishing party, whioh inoluded besides those who were drowned,Mr Herbert Vemnan, of Mooneo Ponds, who was seated rn a rock about 50 yards long and 20 wide. On the beaoh a little distanoe away from her father, Mr Richard O’Donnell, was Miss Hilda O’Donnell. The party had just prepared their fishing lines, when Mr O’Donno'l noticod the approach of a wave,whioh did not appear to be formidable. There was, however, a heavy swtll on. Tbo party prepared to meet the | oncoming wave,whioh swept onwards without a crest, uDtil it broke knee deep over the reef. Mr O'DoDnrli was standing behind Miss Fraser and fiis daughter, whom ha was holding by tbo arm?. The six people were suddenly swept cS their fec-t .; inti tho pool below tho rook, where they s mgg ! ei for some moments’, until another wave swept them out with the speed of a mill taoe into the open ocean. The occurrence took place within full sight of Mies Hilda O'Domiell, wheso screams conveyed to those in tbe vicinity the first knowledge pf tbo catastrophe. She had bean readiug a book in a corner of a rook, and looked up just as tho occurrence took place. As the party of six were swopt into the see, threo of them grasped each other andmanaged to keep afloat for a faw momenis Nona of them could swim, however, and with the exception of Mr Venman they were drownol. Mr VenmaD, who was nearest tbe rock, oluog desperately to the kelp, and a returning wave carried him on to-the beach, whero ho was .immediately drawn by bystanders out of the reach of the waves,