FEATHERSTON

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 October 1939, Page 7

FEATHERSTON

FATALITY AT PALLISER FEATHERSTON MAN DROWNED. WASHED OFF ROCKS WHILE FISHING. (“Times-Age” Special.) When fishing from the rocks in the vicinity of Cape Palliser lighthouse on Saturday morning, Mr Sefton Anderson, aged 26, a married man, of Featherston, was washed off by a heavy sea and drowned. Mr Anderson and Mr J. Fraser were fishing off a group of rocks, about one mile and a half west of the lighthouse, known as'Fish Rocks. A very heavy sea was running, and earlier another fisherman had been washed off, but had managed to scramble back to safety. At about 9.30, a heavy wave, it is stated, caught Mr Anderson unawares, and threw him into the sea, and he vanished immediately. Mr Fraser hastened to the lighthouse for assistance, and Constable N. A. Prussing, of Martinborough, was summoned. Meanwhile Mr Fraser, accompanied by the lighthousekeeper and his assistant, set out for the rocks. Several attempts to drag for the body were suspended while a search was conducted round the fringe of the rocks.

Mrs Andersen was "away at Wellington, and considerable difficulty was experienced in communicating with her. Mr Anderson came to Featherston from Huntly about five months ago.

It is stated that Mr Anderson was adjusting a crayfish pot and had his back to the wave which washed him off the rock. He was a good swimmei and the fact that he made no effort tc get out of the water indicates that he must have been stunned by striking a rock when he was swept into the water. The rock he was standing on was considered by others in the locality to be a dangerous one. It is stated that he had been mar vied only about a year. He was a telegraph faultsman by occupation. So far the body has not been recov ered. A patrol of the beach is being kept by lighthouse keepers and others.