A SAD FATALITY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 197, 9 January 1913, Page 5

A SAD FATALITY.

HIGH SCHOOL BOY DROWNED AT , MOKAU. NAEROW. ESCAPE OF A SECOND BOY. By Telephone.—Own Correspondent. Mokau, Last Night. A sad accident occurred near the mouth of the river Mokau at about five o'clock. to-night, by which, a New Plymouth High School lad named Harold Hirst, about 16 years of age; elder son of Mr. Hirst, manager of the Bank of Australasia,. New Plymouth, lost his life. The circumstances are as follow. Young Hirst, together with two othwr lads, Allen and Norman Little, sons of Mr. J. Litt'ie. of Leppcrton, came in late in the afternoon on their bicycles from New Plymouth, whjeh town they had left the previous day, spending the night at Urenui,. to join the other school boys, who, to the number of about seventeen, arc spending their holidays on the beach here. The boys came down to the camp, which is located behind the police station, a few hundred yards to the north of the mouth of the river, by one track, whilst Mr. Moyes was going by another track to meet his wife, who was arriving by coach. Though he saw the lads, the Headmaster was not within speaking distance. He had given explicit instructions before leaving camp that the boys were not under any circumstances to go bathing in his absence. On arrival at the capip the three lads, who were warm from their bike ride, "peded off," and with .another' jad named Jenkinson went into the water. 1 Four of the other lads, named Weston, Hempton, Candy and Hooker, followed suit, but the latter confined themselves to the "in" water. The others went further out and got into a place that is considered dangerous, because of the eddying nature of the water. > The sea was running out, and this made matters worse. Soon it was seen the boys were in difficulties.

A 'big wave caught them and was sweeping them out to sea. • It was a battle for life. . The boys made for a neighbouring sand 'bank. Norman Little showed signs bf going under, when his brother swam to his assistance and dragged him on to the bank, being only just in time. Jenkinson fought his way to the bank and safety. They turned round, expecting to see Hirst, ibut not a sign .of him could they find. He had apparently sunk. Two ladies, Mrs. Flannagan and Mrs. Jacob, were on the beach at the time, and were eye-witnesses of the tragedy. They saw a huge wave catch the boys, and after it passed the heads of only three cou'id be seen. Hirst had disappeared.

The alarm was" given, aud everything possible was done .by Constable Flannagan, the townspeople and the boys to. find the body of Hirst, but without avail.

A message was dispatched to Mr. Moyes at the ferry, and naturally he was horrified at the news. He rushed low*, to the beach, but, like the others, he was quite 'helpless. Mr. Moyes and all the lads are griefstricken at the fatality. They are on the Ibeach still searching for the body, of which there is at this moment (nine o'clock) still no sign. Probably camp will Ibe broken up as soon as the body is recovered.

The whole of the little township is upset' over the catastrophe, and nrmk sympathy is felt for the toy's parents and Mr. Moyes, who is absolutely without blame. No father could lhave takes greater care of the boys in his charge than he, and it seems as extraordinary as it is sad that the accident should have occurred during the only time he was away from the camp, and then but for a few minutes. He left the camp feeling certain the boys would not disr obey his instruction not to -go into the water whilst.he was away. Had the new-comers known as much about the beach as the others, probably they wou'id not have ventured where they did. The ftoys had been having the time of their lives, fishing, bathing, and playing. The fatality has cast a gloom over everything. Hirst was a fine lad, clever at his scholastic work, and good in the playing field, and liked by everyone. His death is a distinct loss to the school, and is deplored by everyone. He had just got over am attack of ptomaine poisoning, and it is thought this had left him weak, and, therefore, unable to make the resistance against the current necessary to save .his life.