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- While transcribing Cape Certified Death Notices I found this from 1923 Bathurst images 77,78,79
Hopewell,
PO Trapps Valley,C.P.
2nd April 1923
To the Resident Magistrate,
Port Alfred.
Dear Sir,
I have to report the accidental death by drowning of two European gentlemen off the Palmiet River Mouth in the (Cuylerville) ward between 7.0 and 8.0 am yesterday 1st April, viz, (1) Cecil John Penny of Shepstone Vale, farmer. (2) Athol B Timm of Glendinning, farmer, both of this ward.
I was an eye-witness of the fatality. A small group of ladies and girls had been bathing from the beach opposite the mouth of the Palmiet River. I was standing at the sandhills, near to a member of the wagons and tents forming a holiday camp about 250 yards westwards of the ladies who were bathing. Some had left the water. I saw one wave a towel. A child came running in my direction, shouting that Mrs Marion Fox was out of her depth & could not get in. Athol Timm was on the beach below me. As soon as we understood what the child was saying, Athol Timm and I ran towards the ladies. We entered the water together. Athol Timm swam swiftly in the direction of Mrs Fox, whose head could be clearly seen above water, but at a considerable distance from the shore. Harvey Clayton of Osborne farm came into the sea near where I was & shouted to Athol Timm to come back, saying "There will be some more out?
Athol Timm continued swimming seawards. I think he may not have heard Harvey Clayton's voice, or if he heard him he disregarded it.. Harvey Clayton swam seawards after Athol Timm. I returned to the beach. Cecil Penny came running from the camp & entered the water near to me. Mr A.F.Bradfield of the Hope was also present.Mr Bradfield and I noticed that Cecil Penny had attached the end of a fishing line to one of his hands. As he went seawards, Mr Bradfield fastened another piece of line to the end of Mr Penny's. I took the end of this lengthened line and followed Cecil Penny in to the water, endeavoring to fastern on via ring to the line as I did so, in order that the line could be thrown if necessary. The tension on Cecil Penny's line became very strong and endeavoring to retain it, it broke in my hand. This cut off Cecil Penny's connection with the shore. There were now four persons in the water, Mrs Fox, Harvey Clayton,Athol Timm and Cecil Penny. I could see clearly only the latter, who was among the outmost breakers. There were no strong swimmers left on the beach. Mr Bradfiled asked me if I could swim to Cecil Penny with a long ox-reim which he had prepared. I endeavoured to do so, but became exhausted & was pulled into shore. Mre Ross Clayton of Bellevue farm took the ox-reim from me & entered the sea on horseback. The horse refused to go out seawards and returned to the beach. Cecil Penny was now seen to be in great distress, and I belive he sank soon afterwards. Harvey Clayton, whose statement is attached, had during this time succeeded in reaching Mrs Fox & bringing her into shallow water a little to the eastward. They were both in an exhausted condition. Athol Timm was pointed out to me, a long way out to sea. He appeared to be swimming strongly in a westerly direction.
There was a line of rocks ahead of him, which with good fortune a strong swimmer might have reached. I estimate that he swam towards the rocks for twenty minutes beyong the time Mrs Fox was rescued. He disappeared before reaching them.
The beach has been carefully patrolledby private persons and by Sergeant Emslie of the Kaffir Drift Station from the time of the fatalities, but no trace of the bodies has been discovered up to 3.30 pm today. A motor launch from Port Alfred made a search of the ocean opposite the beach at Palmiet River during the middle of Sunday. I learnt by telephone message to the Light-house that they had been unsuccessful. The nearest relatives of both the deceased gentlemen were in camp at Palmiet River and are fully informed. Statements taken from Harvey Clayton and Mary Gladys Bradfield are appended. [ copies not found in this file - Paul TT]
I have the honour to be
Your obedient servant,
W E Woodward J.P.
(ward III Bathurst Dist).
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