FATALITY AT FITZROY.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 December 1916, Page 4

FATALITY AT FITZROY.

LOCAL RKSIM.XT DROWSED. A siul drowning fatality occurred at tlie Fitaroy Boaoh yesterday afternoon, when a well-known resident, Mr. Thomas Salter, of Leech Street, lost his life. Deceased and a neighbor named Mr. fieorgo Wigley wue bathing together at a spot in line with the Fitzroy Bathing Shed, about a mile from the East End Pavilion. There were no othr/r bathers in the water at the time, and three others were sitting on the r ; and not far distant. .Mr. Salter and his companion were bulbing in live feet of water, about SO yards from the ;,hore. Both could swim r. little.' A strong undertow set in, and the receding current carried tii.-m pit' their feet. Wigley found himself in distress, and called for help, Mr. F. (-irifiiths, ; -.ne of tlie group sitting mi the beach, 'inmediately ran forward and reached Wigley in time to save bis life. Wigley ,vas carried ashore in an exhausted' condition. In the meantime Salter was being carried out to sea, and was evidently in distress. Mr. i'.riHith.- and hi* companions were not swimmers, and. seeing that they were unable to help hi in, Mr. Grifliths ran the beach and gave the alarm. When a nilinb' i of swimmers came along Salter had disappeared. Efforts were niade to lind him. but without success The life-boat at East End was bunched and a search for tile body took place. This, too, was unsuccessful. When the news of Mr. Salter's death became known, a gloom was cast over the large crowd of bathers at East End, and expressions of deep • regret were heard on all sides. Mr. Salter was a married man, 40 years o' age. He i.ad resided in Xew Plymouth for many years, and was universally respeated and esteemed. The deceased was the son of a chemist at Shrewsbury, and he han a brother who is a doctor, practising in England. For many years Mr. falter was employed by Dr. Leathain, and when the latter went to England the deceased purchased a motor-car, and set up business as a taxi-cab prop->etor It is understood, he has lately been employed as a financial agent. As the spot at which the .stality occurred is known to be dnngerous, and several lives hav; been lost then or close at hand, it would seem advisable to have a substantial warninj-licard erected, so as to acquaint bathers of the risk of bathing in that locality.