THREE LIVES LOST.
DROWNING TRAGEDY.
Caught By Huge Wave.
OTAGO FISHING PARTY.
TEACHER'S HEROIC SACRIFICE.
(By Telegraph—Press Association). DUNEDIN, Jan. 21. A tragedy occurred at Long Point, near Nuggets on Saturday afternoon, when three members of a fishing party were drowned in the heavy sea which was running at the time. The names of the victims were: Charles John Connell, single, tobacconist and billiards saloon proprietor at Owaka; George Gibb Menzies, married, school-teacher, of Invercargill; Gordon Sproat, married, school-teacher, of Invercargill.
In company with Mr. Thomas Kinney Stickle, teacher, residing at Mataura, the three men had gone to a point on the coast very close to the spot where the steamer Manuka was wrecked, known as Groper Gut, an arm of the sea about 200yds long and one chain wide. Heavy seas frequently pound the coast.
The party made their way by a precipitous path down the face of a cliff 80ft. to 100 ft. in height to a ledge of rock, the surface of which is about 10 feet above the water. Messrs. Connell and Stickle took up a position together, and the other two were a little further away. The four men had been on the rock only a short time when a huge wave came over and drenched them. When Messrs. Connell and Stickle recovered they heard cries from their friends, who had been swept into the sea by the force of the water.
Heroic Rescue Effort. The two men on shore threw in their fishing lines, but Messrs. Menzies and Sproat were unable to catch them. In an heroic effort Mr. Connell then threw off his clothes, tied a fishing line round his waist, and giving the other end to Mr. Stickle, who was not a swimmer, jumped into the seething caldron of water, which even at low tide is about 40ft. deep. His action was described by one who knew the spot as that of the "bravest man in the world." He managed to catch hold of Mr. Sproat and brought him to the rock, the two men endeavouring to hold on to the seaweed and kelp. It was impossible to climb the rock and with the beating of the sea they lost their hold. The three men tried to swim round, but soon all sank and in a minute or two all that the sole eye-witness and survivor could see was a floating waistcoat and hat. Although a party of 40 to 50 men were searching the beaches all day to-day, and some were dragging in the sea, the bodies of the three men have not yet been recovered. -Thames Star, 22/1/1934.
LONG POINT TRAGEDY
MO TRACE OF BODIES
The search for the bodies of the victims of the Long Point tragedy was resumed yesterday afternoon, Constable Dark, of Owaka, and Constable Irwin, of Kaitangata, directing the efforts of the party of about sixty volunteers in searching the beaches and in dragging at Groper Gut. The seas were still fairly rough, with heavy rollers and a northerly current, and no trace of the bodies of Charles John Connell (of Owaka); and of George Gibb Menzies and Hugh Gordon Sproat (of Invercargill) has yet been found. The settlers and police resumed the search to-day, being on the look-out for the bodies at the beaches above and below Long Point, but no word had been received at Owaka this afternoon as to their recovery.
Mr Charles John Connell, who so nobly sacrificed his life in an endeavour to save his companions, was born at Oamaru, and was a son of the late Mr David Connell, of South Oamaru, at one time owner of the Weston stone quarries. He was a carpenter by trade bef ore going to reside at Owaka. While still a young man he rescued a drowning person by diving off the Oamaru breakwater. He was very well known in Oamaru, and is survived by a brother, Mr David Connell, of Hill’s road siding, Central Otago. -Evening Star, 23/1/1934.
LONG POINT TRAGEDY
BODIES NOT YET RECOVERED
CAREERS OF THE VICTIMS
The search for the bodies of the victims of the Long Point tragedy was resumed yesterday, Constable Dark and Constable Irwin, who came from Kaitangata, directing the efforts of about 60 volunteers in searching the beaches and dragging at Groper Gut. The seas were still fairly rough last night, with heavy rollers and a northerly current, and none of the bodies had been recovered at a late hour.
It is reported that no assistance was available within a mile of the site of the tragedy when it occurred, the nearest house being that occupied by Mr J. D. Calder. During the time that Mr T. K. Stickle was away seeking help and before Constable Dark had arrived from Owaka, another party from Tawanui came to the rock and commenced fishing. Although their suspicions were aroused by two bags and a broken line they found nothing to indicate the occurrence of a calamity. The members of the Tawanui party stated that the sea was considerably calmer on Sunday than on Saturday night, but the place, even then, was a seething cauldron or white foam, with waves continually breaking against the cliffs.
With the exception of Mr Connell, who owned a hairdressing saloon at Owaka, the members of the ill-fated party were members of the teaching profession on a visit to the district.
Mr George Gibb Menzies, who was a married man with three children, was born at Fairfax in the Milton district in 1888. He attended the Union street and Normal Schools in Dunedin, and in 1907 was appointed a pupil teacher at the Macandrew Road School. On the completion of four years in that position he spent two years at the Dunedin Training College, at the same time studying at the Otago University. In 1933 he took up an appointment at the Garston School, Southland. He had accepted a position as secondary assistant at the Reeiton School, when the war broke out, and he volunteered for active service. He was wounded in action when serving with the Main Body on Gallipoli. On his return to New Zealand he became headmaster first of Mataura and then of Woodlands Schools, and later became English master at the Southland Technical College. In 1917 he became headmaster at the Tidsbury School, Southland, and towards the end of 1919 was appointed an organising teacher in Southland, Mr Menzies held that position until his appointment in 1924 as headmaster, of the Tokomairiro District High School. In May, 1929, he was appointed headmaster of St. George School, Invercargill, a position which he held at the time of his death.
He was an efficient and popular teacher. In his students days he was a noted boxer, being one of the members of the first organised class at the University and a pupil of Mr J. Kilmartin. On one occasion he won the New Zealand University Feather-weight Championship and also met with considerable success in open competition, winning two divisions in one Southland tournament. He was also prominent in cricket, was a keen rifle shot, and had a great love for swimming. He was twice married. His first wife died in May, 1928. He afterwards married a daughter of Mr J. K. Menzies, for many years headmaster at Tapanui and latterly at Macandrew Bay.
Mr Gordon Sproat was 41 years of age on the day of the tragedy. He was a married man with four children, the youngest being only a few days old. He was a teacher at the Tidsbury School, Invercargill, and, like Mr Menzies, had been an annual visitor to Pounawea for several years. He was a brother of Mr W. A. Sproat, who is headmaster of the new Albany Street Intermediate School. He saw active service during the war and was wounded while in France. He was a member of the Southland Rugby Referees’ Association.
Mr Charles John Connell, who so heroically gave his life in an endeavour to save his two comrades, was born at Oamaru and was a son of the late Mr David Connell, of South Oamaru, at one time owner of the Weston stone quarries. Mr Connell, before going to reside in Owaka, was a carpenter by trade. While still a young man he rescued a drowning person by diving off the Oamaru breakwater. He was employed for several years by the late Mr Tait, building contractor, and later by Mr J. G. Wallace. Mr Connell was very well known in Oamaru, where he had a large number of friends, and frequently paid visits to his home town. He was a fine type of man as was shown by his brave attempt to rescue his comrades, and his death will be keenly felt by all who knew him. He is survived by a brother, Mr David Connell, of Hill’s road siding, Central Otago. -Otago Daily Times, 23/1/1934.
THE LONG POINT TRAGEDY.
The drowning fatality which occurred a few days ago on the southern coast near Owaka has evoked universal sympathy for the bereaved, but from none more so than from members of the teaching profession, of which two of the victims of the tragedy were ornaments. Both Mr George Gibbs Menzies and Mr Gordon Sproat were greatly esteemed by their confreres, and the St. George School, of which the former was headmaster, was one of the few that came out of the examination test marked “excellent.” By their sad and untimely death Southland has lost two of its best teachers. Both were ex-service men, and both had been wounded, and having survived these, it seems strange that Fate should have decreed a sudden and tragic end while they were enjoying a holiday! The ways of Providence are inscrutable. The fatality will long be remembered because of the heroism of the third victim, Mr Charles John Connell, a hairdresser of Owaka. Seeing the two menc struggling in the seathing waters, he asked the fourth member of the party to tie a cod-fishing line round his body, and jumped into the swirling cauldron of waters in an attempt to save the drowning men. The thin improvised life-line snapped, and Connell became as helpless as those whom he had dived in to save. A real hero, and an. imperishable record should be made of his gallant and heroic deed. Mr Connell was a native of Oamaru. While still a young man he rescued a drowning person by diving off the Oamaru breakwater. He was a fine type of man, and the teachers of Southland should recognise his heroism by erecting a suitable tablet either in the schools where the two teachers had taught or in the Education Office, where a brass tablet records the heroism of the late Ian Galloway who gave his life in an attempt to save the son of Mr Soar who was drowned many years ago at Greenhills on the occasion of the Colac Bay School picnic there. We commend the suggestion to the Teachers’ Institute. -Western Star, 26/1/1934.
DROWNING FATALITY
RECOVERY OP BODY
(Per Press Association.) DUNEDIN, last night. The body of Charles John Connell, who was drowned at Long Point on January 20 in an effort to save George Menzies and Gordon Sprout, who were also drowned, was recovered to-day at the spot where the tragedy occurred. -Poverty Bay Herald, 31/1/1934.
FUNERAL NOTICE.
The Friends of the late CHARLES JOHN CONNELL are respectfully Invited to attend his Funeral, which will leave the Residence of his brother, Mr David Connell, Hunt's road, Owaka, at 3 p.m., TO-DAY (WEDNESDAY), for the Owaka Cemetery. G. FRASER, Undertaker, Owaka. -Otago Daily Times, 31/1/1934.
LONG POINT TRAGEDY
HEROISM OF MR CONNELL
COMMEMORATIVE PROPOSAL.
There was an attendance of approximately 80 at a public meeting held at Owaka on Wednesday night to discuss proposals to commemorate the action of Mr Charles John Connell, who sacrificed his life in endeavouring to rescue his companions at Long Point. The convener of the meeting, Mr Maginness, explained its purpose, after which all present stood in silence as a mark of respect to the memory of the three deceased.
At Mr Maginness's suggestion a committee, with seven local representatives and an additional representative from each adjoining locality, was formed, the local representatives being Messrs Maginess (chairman), H. C. Alloo (secretary), R. J Roger, G. Fraser, W. R. Gorman, J. Logan and W. Landreth. The secretary was instructed to write to the Royal Humane Society, bringing the action of Mr Connell under its notice.
It was arranged that subscription lists should be opened and that anyone desiring to subscribe could do so through the secretary. A letter was read from Mr W. McLachlan, of the Criterion Hotel, Dunedin, enclosing a cheque for one guinea. Numerous suggestions were forthcoming as to the form the memorial should take, and it was decided that these should be considered at a public meeting to be convened later, together with any other suggestions on the matter that were forwarded to the committee. -Otago Daily Times, 13/2/1945.
BEREAVEMENT NOTICE
MR and Mrs D. CONNELL, Hunt’s Road, Owaka, wish to express their sincere Thanks to all friends and the police who assisted in the search at Long Point for our late brother, Charles John Connell, we also wish to return Thanks to the Owaka returned soldiers and ail friends for the many expressions of sympathy and the many floral tributes. -Otago Daily Times, 16/2/1934.
EDUCATIONAL AFFAIRS
OTAGO BOARD MEETS (abridged)
MEMORIAL GATES AT OWAKA. The Secretary of the C. J. Connell memorial fund stated that the Owaka Committee proposed to spend the sum of £40 on a gateway at the Owaka School to act as a memorial to Charles John Connell, who lost his life at Long Point in an effort to save his schoolteacher friends, Messrs Sprout and Menzies. Permission was asked for the erection of the gateway, also as to whether the board would make a grant towards the erection and maintenance of the gateway. — The matter was referred to the members for the district and the committee. -Evening Star, 16/5/1934.
Former Pupil's Bravery
MEMORIAL TABLET UNVEILED
(By Telegraph—Press Association.) OAMARU, Last Night. At the Oamaru South School to-day a memorial tablet was unveiled and a handsome wall dedicated to the memory of Charles John Connell, who lost this life in attempting to save two companions from drowning at Long Point last January. Connell, was an ex-pupil of South School and reference was made to his gallant action by Mr J. Braithwaite (chairman of the .school committee), Mr D. A. McPherson (the headmaster) and the Mayor (Mr M. F. Cooney). A tablet was unveiled by Miss McNaught, who taught Connell, and Mr J. Wallace (chairman of the Otago Education Board) accepted the memorial on behalf of the board. -Horowhenua Chronicle, 14/11/1934.
IN MEMORIAM
CONNELL. — In loving memory of Charlie, who lost his life at Long Point, January 20, 1034.
It is for us too.
Though we walk on the sod,
That City, Whose builder and maker is God.
— Inserted by Campbells, Ryly street.
CONNELL. — In loving memory of Charles John Connell, drowned Long Point, January 20, 1934. “Lest we forget.” — Mr and Mrs R. J. Rogers and family, Owaka. -Otago Daily Times, 19/1/1935.
CHARLES CONNELL MEMORIAL
UNVEILING CEREMONY
In memory of the tragedy which occurred at Long Point on January 20, 1954, an impressive memorial gate was erected by public subscription at the entrance of the Owaka District High School to commemorate the noble but unsuccessful endeavour of Charles John Connell to rescue his two companions, Hugh Gordon Sproat and George Menzies, two Southland school teachers, from drowning while on a fishing expedition. The unveiling ceremony of the memorial gate took place on Sunday last. Despite the inclement weather, there was a large attendance, including a number who came from Invercargill. Among the latter were four members of the Southland branch of the New Zealand Teachers' Institute, Mr W. McChesney, and Mesdames Sproat and Menzies. At 2.15 p.m. about 50 members of the Owaka branch of the Returned Soldiers' Association and the Owaka Troop of Boy Scouts assembled at the Owaka Post Office and paraded to the memorial.
The chairman of the Memorial Committee (Mr T. Maginness), who presided, said he was sure that all present would regret the tragedy that was the occasion of their presence at the ceremony. The disaster that occurred two years ago at Long Point had cast a gloom over Owaka and district, and it was only right that they should give suitable recognition to the bravery of Charles Connell, who had sacrificed his life for his friends. The memorial they were about to unveil had been erected by voluntary subscription. He had to thank the Southland Teachers' Institute for their generous assistance and the many others who had contributed. The site of the monument was appropriate. Charles Connell had loved children, and they had loved him. He felt that the memorial would be an inspiration to the children. Few, if any, would be called upon to make the sacrifice he made, but his example in doing what he considered to be his duty would inspire them to lead noble lives.
Mr D. T. Fleming, representing the Otago Education Board, stated that the board had been pleased to take a small part in the erection of the memorial to help to perpetuate the memory of a brave and noble man. The Otago Education Board would in the future give attention to the maintenance of the district's tribute to one of its valued citizens, and he hoped that the memorial would remind future generations of the noble deed done by one who had perished in trying to save others. Mr D. F. Leckie, on behalf of the Southland branch of the New Zealand Teachers' Institute, expressed his thanks on having the privilege of paying a tribute to one who had died as he had lived. The Teachers' Institute had been pleased to help in a small way towards the erection of the memorial.
Mr F. Waite, M.L.C., stated that all should remember the act of heroism of Charles Connell, and he was well worthy of the memorial they were about to unveil in his honour. In one sense Charles Connell had almost thrown his life away, and to-day his name was known throughout New Zealand. Two years ago, at Long Point, when a tremendous wave had washed his two companions off the slippery rock he had plunged into the angry sea and all were lost. English races found it difficult to talk about bravery and heroism. It was when they came to consider life and death that they realised how little they knew of them. He felt sure that sooner or later they would be the better for the example shown to them by Charles Connell.
The memorial was then unveiled by Mesdames Shaw and Dryden, two friends of the deceased. The hymn "Abide With Me" was followed by a prayer and benediction, delivered by the Rev. R. Blair. -Evening Star, 21/1/1935.
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