TRAGIC STORY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 April 1939, Page 8

TRAGIC STORY

HOY/ CAR WAS DRIVEN OVER STAGING , PLUNGE INTO AUCKLAND HARBOUR. DROWNING OF TWO YOUNG WOMEN. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, April 12. The tragic circumstances which led Mr Ross Faulkner to drive along the staging at the Devonport Wharf in an an attempt to catch a ferryboat which he did not know was then pulling away from the raised apron at the end were told today after an inquest had been opened into the deaths of Miss Elizabeth Swanston and Miss Margaret Beale, two young women who were drowned when Mr Faulkner’s motorcar dropped into the harbour at about 11.15 on Tuesday night after they had attended a wedding at Takapuna. With Mr Noel Crump, who was a close friend of Miss Swanston, and Mr Gilbert Baron, of Katikati, the two young women and Mr Faulkner left the wedding reception with the intention of going to a suburban cabaret. Their car was closely followed by that of Mr T. J. Fleming, who today represented Mr J. B. Beale, father of Miss Beale, at the inquest. When Mr Faulkner, who was not familiar with the vehicular ferry service system, arrived at the wharf he found that a ferry had just left for the. city. His solicitor, Mr E. Jenkins, said today that Faulkner had said he inquired when the next ferry would be leaving and was told that it would go in about 15 minutes. Presently a vehicular ferry approached from the city side and discharged its load of cars. Seeing this, it was stated, one of the girls suggested to Faulkner that he should board the ferry. At that time the number of vehicular ferries plying across the harbour was being reduced for the late traffic and the boat which had just discharger its cars was pulling away preparatory to going to its night berth. Under ■ he system followed it had finished for. the night and the running was then being taken up by another vessel. Faulkner was unaware of this. As the ferry' drew away from the wharf the apron at the end of the staging was raised about two feet from the decking of the Ship, according to a driver who followed closely after Faulkner. Faulkner drove up the slight incline and could not stop when he found that the ferry was not still at its berth. His car, a heavy four-door model, fell about 10 or 12 feet into the harbour, Faulkner made vain efforts to open a door. Then water began to come in through the open windows, and he swallowed some. . After that his attempts to open a door became instinctive and he does not know exactly when he floated clear of the car.

By this time Grump, who had come back to the. staging, to board the ferry, had been told that the car had plunged into the harbour. With Baron and Faulkner he began diving to release the two girls. Several times Crump touched tne car, but none of the meh was able to overcome, the pressure of water at the harbour, bottom.. When they finally desisted after what others described as heroic efforts, they were all near exhaustion. Efforts to release the two victims and raise the car were continued by police officers and Auckland Harbour Board officials till about 5.30 this morning, when they finally, succeeded. Three doors were open when the car came to the surface.

When the inquest was opened, Robert Newton King Swanston, Takapuna, and James Bruce Beale, Tauranga, fathers of the girls, gave evidence that they had seen their daughters immediately before Faulkner’s party left the wedding reception. All five persons in the car, they said, were quite sober. The. inquest Was. adjourned after formal evidence, ahd later the coroner, Mr F. K. Hunt, visited the ferry staging, and inspected the warning devices. Later .in the afternoon workmen attended to the light’ at the shore end. GATES WANTED. NEED FOR HARBOUR ERID&E. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND. April 12. Provision of a gate at tn'e top of the ramp at each landing oh the AucklandDevcnport vehicular ferry service was urged by the council of the Auckland Automobile Association, at a meeting tonight. This decision was made after discussion of the tragic drowning of two young women at Devonport on Tuesday night. The President, Mr F. G. Farrell, considered the association should make further representations regarding the harbour bridge.