BATHING FATALITY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 195, 16 February 1914, Page 7

BATHING FATALITY.

COROXOR'S INQUEST. A DANGEROUS SPOT. An inquest was held at the Xew Plymouth- Courthouse ou Saturday, before Mr. Croohe, S.M., District Coroner, into Uio circumstances surrounding t tie death or William Herbert. Fenwick. the victim of the. bathing fatality which occurred on the Fitzroy beach on Thursday afternoon last. Constable Boultou conducted the inquiry on behalf of the police Wallace Robert Wade, of of New Plymouth, medical practitioner, deposed thiit he. was called to the Fitzroy beach at about 5.30 p.m. mi Thursday last. He found the body of the late Mr. t'eiiI wick on the beach, surrounded by severial people, who were performing''artificial respiration very efficiently. This was carried on by his instructions until , 7 o'clock. Deceased showed no sign of life when witness arrived, and no sign of recovery was shown afterwards, though several methods of rcsucitntion 'were tried. In his opinion deceased met his death by drowning. Harry Cox, of New Plymouth, linotype operator, deposed that on Thurs- ' day last he was bathing on- the Fitzroy beach at about 4.10. lie saw deceased enter the water a. few' minutes later. They were both swimming close together a little, out of their depth, when witness heard deceased •' cry for help. He immediately irml to swim towards deceased, who was between him znd the shore, but found he codtl make little jfrogress. There was a strong current, or undcr-tow, miming • 'against him. Witness then finding himself in difficulties keptj on shimming for the shore, and before he' arrived there deceased had disappeared. He then sent for assistance ami Mr. D. »S. Wilson attempted ts find deceased, who had not struggled longer than two minutes before he disappeared.' When the body was recovered deceased had been in the water about three-quarters ef arts hour. He had never seen deceased swimming in that place before. Witness had himself done so and had never before experienced the Tinder-tow. Witness was n moderately good swimmer and deceased a Tery poor one. Witness would not previously have, considered the locality a dangerous one. Jt appeared to witness-that deceased lost Iris nerve.

Ernest Penrose Knight, of New Plymouth, carter, deposed that on the day of the accident he was on the Fitzroy beach, when he was told that a man had Inieu drowned. He went to search for the body and found it face downwards in the surf in about 4ft of wat«r. He brought the hotly to the shore and commeiced artilicial respiration until Dr. Wade arrived and took vharge. The scene of the accident was about one raih? away from the East End Bathing shed. It was a place not usually used by bathers because oi the dangerous undertow. At the tinte he recovered the body the. tide was making. Witness rode into the surf on horseback, and when he first saw the body it was in about ten feet of water.

Paris Boulton, police constable sUI tio>ied at Fitzroy, deposed that he knew the spot where deceased was drowned, and had bathed there at different times. It was dangerous to bathe there whim the tide, was running out, and especially bo just at the turn of the tide. He thought a notice should be placed on the beach warning, bathers against the | dangers of the place. He did not, bowever, know who was to put it there. •[•. j'he knew of no one who had control of the l>caeh, except perhaps tho Harbor Board. It was quite safe to lmlW itherc when the tide, was not running lout or turning. ,

i The coroner returned a verdict <>f duowning, remarking that .■everything had been done to rescue and resuscitate the deceased. He added that it appeared to him that u notice should be erected on the bench warning bathers against bathing there when the tide was turning.

Writes »ur Tariki correspondent under .Saturday's date:—A very painful sensation was caused here by the sad jiews of the bathing fatality at JTHzro.r. The late Mr. W. II Fe.nwiek, who for n number of years was farming in Hiis locality, was highly respected throughout tlie district. Deep sympathy is felt for liis widow (a daughter of Mr. .J. Therkleson, sen.), mid family, and for hi* many relatives here, to whom his sad death i-s a great grief. The funeral of the late Mr. William Herbert Fenwick took place at the Te Henui cemetery yesterday afternoon ;k the presence of a very large number of friends who had come from all parts of the. district, especially Stratford, Many others would also have been [iresent had a train service keen available A touching feature of the funeral cortege was the presence of tie Methodist Ssnday School children, who attended as a mark of respect and affectio» for their late superintendent. The Bev. H. T. Peat officiated at the graveside, and made feeling reference t|o the good influence exercised by the deceased in the community. The Methodist choir sang hymn 210 (fiankey and Moody) which was a favorite of the deceased. Deep sympathy was expressed witk the family in their bereavement.