William Manuel Anderson

Newestie, July 16, 1919.

NEWBIGGIN BATHING FATALITY.

Inquest on the Two Victims. Story of an Attempted Rescue. An inquest was held at Newbiggin, this morning, before Mr.

Charles Percy, on the bodies of William Conn, 154, who lived at Sycamore Street, Hirst, and William Manuel Anderson, 17 years and 10 months, who lived at Whitton Ville, Ashington, the victims of the double bathing fatality in Newbiggin Bay. The body of Conn was identified by his father, William Conn, a miner, and that of Anderson by a brother, Tom Hugh Ronald Anderson, both of whom could only state that the deceased youths left their homes 00 Sunday morning to bathe at Newbiggin. William Downie, Hirst, an apprentice saddler, stated that he was with the two deccased youths on Sunday morning. They went into the sea rear the Horse Shoe Steps. There were a good many people on the banks, but not many were bathing.

They found the water dirty, and walked along northwards. Witness was three or four yards ahead, and nearly up to the shoulders in the sea. He could not swim, but was about to try when he heard someone gasping. He looked round, and saw Anderson swimming as hard as he could, and Conn standing laughing. Anderson's mouth was going under the water at every wave.

Conn was about two yards nearer the shore, standing. Witness and Conn thought Anderson was joking. Suddenly they realised that something was wrong. Conn took a few steps in and got hold of Anderson, pulling the latter a little towards the shore. Conn was then about up to the shoulders.

Both started to swim shoreward, but, instead of getting ahead they went backwards. The tide was evidently carrying them away. They were out of witness's depth, and he started shouting, and a young man named Rigby came running down from the banks. Rigby was undressed. and swam towards Anderson and Conn.

Witness got out of the water, and kept shonting. Someone came with a life belt, and witness carried it into the water up to his chest, and pushed it towards the others as far as he could. When he got ashore again, Anderson and Conn had disappeared, and Rigby was in the life belt. Witness found very strong current against him AB he came ashore. Mr.

J. R. Stephenson, a jeweller, tioned that it was a life-buoy, not a life belt. The Council had life-buoys placed right along the beach. William Rigby, 207, Portland Terrace, Hirst, grocer's assistant.

stated that he was sitting on the sea-banks when he noticed the three lads bathing. They were all separated by about 6 yards. Witness was undressing to bathe, when he heard one of them shouting for help. He went to the spot and swam out to Anderson, who sank when he got about two yards from him. Conn was floating on the surface.

and seemed only partly sensible. He told Conn to get on his back, and assisted by turning him over by the feet. Witness went under, but came up alongside, and was bringing Conn out when the latter commenced to struggle, and turned over in witness's arms. Witness had his arms under Conn's back. In the struggling, they both went under, and witness received a blow on the head.

On rising to the surface, he was dazed, and began to strike out but he did not know where. He afterwards saw the life-buoy about six lengths away, and got hold of it, and lay there until he regained his strength. He was then 40 yards from the shore. He reached the beach with the aid of the life buoy. Answering Mr.

Ralph Rutherford, foreman of the jury, witness said the current was strong, and the tide was ebbing. David Gibson, living at Wansbeck Square, Newbiggin, said he found the body of Conn on Sunday morning. It was floating in the sea, abont 20 yards from the short, and near the place where the lads had been bathing. William Dawson, living at Downie's Buildings, Newbiggin, said he found Anderson's body on Monday morning. It was on a sand bank, in about a foot of water, 25 yards from the shore.

Mr. Percy said he was sure their sympathy went out to the relatives and friends of the deceased youths, who had come to such an untimely him end. He felt sure the jury, sup perted in recording their appreciation of the courageous and noble conduct of Mr. Rigby. The prompt measures Mr.

Rigby took. at the risk of his own life, measures which he continued, in spite of the struggles of the drowning lads, until he was struck on the head and went under, made his action noble and brave. It was an action which deserved every recommendation and commendation at their hands. Mr. Percy, with the concurrence of the jury, personally complimented Mr.

Rigby, and, in returning a verdict that the deceased lads had been accidentally drowned while bathing in the sea, also recorded the jury's commendation of Mr. Rigby's bravery.