THE DROWNING FATALITY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2411, 28 January 1909, Page 6

THE DROWNING FATALITY.

THE INQUEST. Mr W. A. 'Barton, District Coroner, held an inquiry yesterday morning at the residence of the Rev. C. Griffin, Palmerston Road, concerning the death of Dora Alice Griffin, who was drowned in the swimming bath at the -Gisborne school on Tuesday .afternoon. Sergeant -Hutton appeared on behalf of the Police, and a jury was dispensed with. .Elsie Mary Griffin, sister to the deceased, land Science Mistress at the Girls’ 'Grammar School, Auckland, said that she accompanied her sister to the school bath and met her mother there. After arriving at the bath Mrs. Griffin had her bath first, and her sister then got into the bath. Mrs. Griffin called witness to come quiekily to help her sister. <Shs (witness) saw deceased struggling in about six feet of water. Witness tried to hold her sister up, but could not, ajid both went down under the water several times. "Witness managed to get free, and started to swim to the edge. By that time her sister had disappeared. Miss Sinclair came to* witness’ assistance, and after a time several men also came to the bath and attempted to rescue the deceased, and took Mrs. Griffin out

of the hath. All possible assistance was rendered to try and save her sister. Medical help came promptly, and /after the body was got out of the water artificial respiration was kept going for about two hours, hut without avail. Dr Gerard Smith said he received a .message at about noon on Tucs-

day to go to the school bath. He saw deceased out of the water, and a •number of persons wei'c trying artificial respiration on the body; Efforts to restore animation, were continued for about two hours without effect. He was of opinion that the deceased knd >au attack of some kind that took away her power of swimming. A sudden immersion in cold water often, produced a shock to ihe heart when the body was heated. AYillhm Thomas Davies, a young .man, --.aid that at mb out noon on Tuesday he was near the school baths. He heard screams, but took no notice, as he thought the noise was made by school children. Me went to the baths wlh.cn he heard a -cry for help. After bursting in- the door lie saw two women holding Airs Griffin. He went around to where Mrs. Griffin was in the water and assisted her out. Airs. Griffin then said: “AJy daughter, my daughter!” AVituess then saw the girl in the bath. He dived in fully clothed, but could not see anything. Tic got out on to the bank, and saw the deceased lying face downwards in the water. Ho dived in (again, but could not roach the body, so lie put bis hands above bis head and went down feet first, to where the body was. After a'time, ho found -where the body was lying, but could not raise, it out of the water, owing to the doping of the- bath

causing his feet to slip. He then ; struggled out of the water exhausted. 1 Someone had arrived on the scene ' with a garden mke, (and -with >a Air 1 Clayton .witness helped to got the body out with the assistance of the rake. There was no boat hook at the ; but!is to use for lifting a person out of the water. i Constable Dwyer- said that, ho ro- ! reived' information of an 'accident >at the school baths at about noon on Tuesday, and on going to the place ■ lie saw the deceased being attended to by iDrs. Smith, {Reeves and AVilson. ! .lie laftcrwbrds took the body to the parents’ residence. i A. verdict was returned that the deceased met her death by being -ac- : cidentally drowned in the school

bath, caused hv a fainting fit owing ! to sudden immersion in the water, hand that no blame was attachable to ! anyone. j It was .added jby the Coroner that. • -a suitable boat hook should be kept j at the baths for use in such emer- . gencics. | THE FUNERAL. 1 The interment, which was strictly private, took place yesterday after- { noon at the Alakaraloa- cemetery, the Rev. VV. Grant conducting the funej ral rites. The Rev. C. Griffin has ! received a 'large number of messages of condplence -with him and ihis fa- | mily in their sad bereavement.