The Fatal Journey

Shannon News, 25 August 1925, Page 3

The Fatal Journey

HAPPY PARTY'S TRIP, Thomas Staff, son of one of the earliest settlers of the Manawatu an 1 a highly respected resident of Foxton completed the building of a "flattie* on Saturday and decided to take the boat out for a trial spin on the river. Accompanied by his four eldest children be commenced the journey from Foxton at about three o'clock with the tide running out strongly. The well-laden craft made good time with the aid of tide and current. Strangely enough only two persons appear to have sighted it between what was apparently a happy start and the journey's tragic end. Fisherman Dawson, tending his nets on the bend above the jetty, hailed the rowers as they passed and received a breezy response, although he expressed himself as somewhat anxious at their going downstream, because the tide was rapidly running out # The Only Witness. No one else on the beach saw thein until the little craft was passing the spit at the pilot's signal station, near the river's mouth. Here an elderly I Maori woman, Mrs Ward was gathering pipis and she was sole witness of the swamping of the boat on the i bar.

Although elderly and frail in appearance, Mrs Ward is certainly quite keen mentally, and she told her story to a "Times" representative with all the native genius for narrative and detail. In-view of the fact that she was the lone witness of the tragedy. Mrs Ward was carefully crossexamined with the assistance of two well-known residents of tlie beach Messrs E. R. B. Holben and Hartley senior. The Pipi Gatherer. "I went down to the spit at the mouth of the river," said Mrs Ward "at about three o'clock. I see the tide going out strongly' and I was very much surprised when a boat camo down making for the bar. It passed about 50 yards away from me, and I could see the people in it quite plainly

"There was a girl with a pink scarf sitting in the bow. Two young fellows were pulling at the oars, and a man and another girl—l think she was in brown—sitting in the stern. "The girl at the. bow and the two rowers had their backs to the sea, and could not see where they were going. They were still rowing as they neared the bar." Mrs Ward was closely crossexamined as to whether the occupants of the boat were showing any sign that they appreciated their danger or that they were endeavoui'ing to make for either bank of the river or turn the boat, but she vigorously affirmed hat they were to all appearances going straight for the bar with the idea of crossing it. "I was very much surprised and afraid," she said, "because I know their danger. The tide was running out swiftly, and the sea on the bar was very Tough. The Fatal Wave. "I watch them. The first wave strike them. I hear them laugh. The second wave strike them, and I hear them cry out. Then the third wave strike them and swamp the boat. T hear them scream for help, and I look again, but I see neither the people nor the boat. I then try to get help, but I am an old woman and cannot run very fast, so I take off my white coal and wave it. There were a few people some distance away, but it was hard to make them understand that a terrible thing had happened.

The pilot's house is a long way off, but at last I get somebody to go to him. The Maori Way. "Then I come back with a young fellow to see what we can do. I asl* him for a match to light a flre, so that if we get anyone from the water I we might perhaps bring him round." 1 It was explained that the Maori method of resuscitation was to get I smoke into the nostril to cause sneezj ing, thereby finding out whether ' there was any sign of life. i ' Mrs Ward stated that the youth ' who was now with her thought at j

I one tim e that he saw dark objects in I the water beyond the bar, but that was the only suggestion of anything in the angry waste of waters. Pilot's Fruitless Run. In the meantime Pilot Larsen had made the best time possible with hi 9 powerful launch, but dusk was gathering as he made the bar, and it was now dead low water, which prevented the launch from crossing the treacherous divide between river and open ocean. The pilot, therfore could do nothing but turn back and wait till morning. Uncertain Identity. j

■ Up till this time no one really knew who were the occupants of the boat, and Mrs Ward's story remained uncorroborated until Mr Dawson, the fisherman, was able to say that he had seen a loaded boat go down stream. Even then it was not suspected that the victims wer e residents of Foxton, the opinion held being that they were an inexperienced weekend party from Palmerston North. Later the discovery was made that the victims were residents of Foxton, and Constables Owen and Ryan went to the beach with all speed, but the oncoming of night made search an impossibility;

Father's Body Recovered. ' At daybreak on Sunday morning. Pilot Larsen- had his launch again in commission, and with the two police officers made for the southern shore of the river, where they dragged diligently all the 1 morning. Their search was rewarded with the I recovery, of the body of the father, i Thomas Staff. The rudder, oar, j mast and sail of the "flattie" were ', also found.

After a brief spell for lunch the quest continued, and never let up despite a steady downpour, of rain from 1.30 to 3.30. 'At five o'lock the wet and weary searchers gave up for the day and returned to their homes.

The Levin police when informed of the tragedy started a Search of the coast from Hokio to the Heads, but no trace of the bodies was found by them. Knew the River Well. Although the story of the one eyewitness suggests that ignorance of the \ liver's dangers was the primary cause of the tragedy, those who knew, Mr Staff are firmly convinced that he had a thorough knowledge of its variable moods, having been familiar with it since boyhood. Moreover, his friends declare, that caution was a prominent trait in his character —a trait that was strengthened by the fact that some years ago his brother and his cousin (Mr Honore) also met their end by drowning in the Manawatu river. It is contended, therefore, that, he must hav e been aware of the extreme danger of his situation when nearing the bar, and his friends argue that the vigorous handling of the oars by the two sons must really have been an endeavour to turn the boat towards one of the, banks of the riverEarly and Esteemed Settlers. The Staff family have been kuoAvn for half a century in the Manawatu district. Thomas Staff was born on the banks of the Manawatu at the Wirokino bridge, where his fathernow living in retirement in Wellington —settled about fifty years ago. Later the family removed to* Rongoet.a (then known as Campbelltown), where they resided for some years.

The late Mr Staff was also a resident of Wellington for some time, but returned to Foxton eight years ago. He was a man of a retiring disposition, clean living and greatly respected by all who knew him. Devoted to his home and family of seven children. Mr Staff centred all his interests in them, and his trip on the river which ended so tragical Iv, was designed to give his boys and girls an afternoon's pleasure in the new "flattie." The four children—who shared their father's fate—are spoken of with admiration by all who knew them. Alfred, aged 15, had been attending the Palmerston North Technical School, and Margaret, aged 14, was a pupil of the Palmerston North Girls' High School, A teacher who knew them intimately speaks highly of the character ability and promise of all four. Two of them were members of the K.O.S. (keeping on smiling) Club of the Foxton Presbyterian Church, and had

attended their club meeting on the evening before, their death.. Two Foxton boys have reason to bo thankful that they are still alive. It was arranged that they should accompany the party, but they finally decided not to go, and so escaped their companions' fate.

The. greatest sympathy is felt for and has freely been extended to Mrs Staff in the dark hour of her grief. Bereft of a husband and four bright and promising children in one swift

and staggering blow is a cruel fate, but the bereaved mother is left with the care of three little children, the youngest of whom is two and the eldest only five.

The late Mr Staff was a nephew of Mrs E. Osborne, of Ferguson street, Palmerston North