Obituaries Australia

CAUGHT IN UNDERTOW.
SEVEN BATHERS IN PERIL.
YOUNG WOMAN DROWNED.

LORNE, Tuesday. - While bathing, in the surf almost opposite the Lorne Tennis Club, at half-past 11 o'clock this morning, a party of seven was caught by the under-tow and swept into a "channel" which constitutes a grave danger to bathing when an easterly wind is blowing. With the exception of two young women, all of the party were able to reach the shore. They were in an exhausted condition. Of the other young women, one was rescued by a party of bathers, but the other was drowned. The body was recovered about an hour afterwards. The name of the dead girl is Miss Clare Burvett, aged 21 year, of 3 McKenzie street, Melbourne. The girl who was rescued is Miss Massie Holliday, aged 21 years, of Elsternwick.

Miss Burvett and Miss Holliday were spending a holiday at the Carinya boarding house, accompanied by Miss Burvett's sister, Doris, aged 10 years. With another young woman and three men they were all enjoying the sport of "shooting" the breakers when the accident happened. The tide was out at the time, and they were about waist high in the water, when suddenly a heavy breaker overwhelmed them, and simultaneously a strong undertow carried the bathers to the edge of the channel. All were swimmers, and they struggled towards the shore, but so strong was the current that Miss Burvett and Miss Holliday were swept out to sea.

Mr. Samuel Michael, of Geelong, who was a member of the party, caught hold of Miss Holliday and dragged her for several yards, but. becoming exhausted, he was compelled to let her go. But she had been brought in closer to the shore, and her rescue by several other bathers was effected. Miss Clare Burvett was not seen after the party were caught in the breaker. Mr. Michael collapsed when he reached shallow water, and had to be carried on to the beach. Attracted by the cries for help, numerous bathers brought out the life-line, and Miss Lily Beaurepaire swam out to the full extent of the line, which is a quarter of a mile long. Miss Beaurepaire, who is the lady champion swimmer of Victoria, made a gallant effort to find the missing girl, diving beneath the waves and sometimes swimming underneath the water. Her occasional disappearances couied concern among the on-lookers, but, after having been in the wator for nearly 20 minutes Miss Beaurepaire threw off tho line and swam ashore, apparently little the worse for her adventure. She said that the undertow was very strong in the vicinity in which the tragedy occurred. There was a slight easterly wind blowing, but the bathers did not realise that there was any danger until they were struck by the breaker.

Three men rowed a small, fishing boat from the mouth of the Erskine River and searched the sea. Nearly half a mile from the scene of the tragedy the body of Miss Clare Burvett was found floating face downwards. The body had floated along when the "channel" is said to extend. Miss Beaurepaire had again entered the water, hnving seen the body, and she afterwards entered the boat. Efforts at resuscitation were made for some time without success.

Miss Burvett's father was formerlv a detective inspector. Two of Mr. Burvett's sons were killed at the war. The tragedy caused a painful sensation among the hundreds of holiday-makers at Lorne. Constable R. C. Lloyd is making inquiries for the inquest. This is the first bathing fatality which has occurred at Lorne for about four years. Close