THE CHINA MAIL, SATURDAY, JULY (5, 1958;' :
By
THE GAP PLANNING A JAUNT TO "
THEY COME HERE
TO DIE!
AUSTRALIA'S most notorious
suicide
spot, The Gap, may soon become purely a tourist attraction.
The Gap, a 200 feet high cliff near Watson's Bay, on the southern head of Sydney harbour, has for years been the favourite resort of people determined to "end it all.”
J
Until recently, all intending suleides had to do was clamber over a small protecting fence at Jump. Below, fortnations of Tricks ensured an instantaneous death.
Then the police stepped in. A nearby stands patrol car now "day end night, manned by polive ready to make an Immediate dash to The Gop to restrain anyone who appears to be con- templating suicide.
In the first week of the patral, police prevented two men and two women from inaking the fatal jump).
•JACOBY
MAN
ANY years ago when I was young I had my fortune told by an old gypsy woman who kept
a summer stand at Hanlon's Point, Toronto. She. gazed at my palm for something over a minute and then said: "You will cross the ocean many times and you will travel to many countries. That will visit be ten cents."
FORMOSA
Chinsa
proper. I've league Arnly if ungrammati phoned this Chinese Embassy cully. "IP's ridiculous of Peking and we're to be there at ave to behave in such a toshion." Then with the very perfection The o'clock."
of the legal mind' he beclared emphatically that
China would not have
would
coin of the realm and reflected agent shook his head sadly. Then
for
"You'ro small-
I gave her the appropriate the care of ja governess.
brightened up. sadly upon the pitfalls of human he vanity. Here was a week's n
rlgiit pocket money gone in the twink- pox of course? Oli noyou ing of an eye- and for what? sald you weren't. Well that's They'll do that Just a ridiculous mumbo jumba no trouble. anlat runs and dis- for you at any hospital,"
farids.
It was quite true that the vo Baxter, children and their parents had been to Niagara Falls, and as a member of a Boy Trio I had been to North
of ever seeing any other country thon Canada except perhaps the American side of the falls from a respectful distance?
cut out China, In fact there has been nothing to equal s fairness since Coriolanus banish- ed ancient Rome after the Romans refused to let him rule over them any longer.
So at the appointed hour we called as the Chinese Embassy in Portland Place, Just op- posite the B.B.C., and WETC received most courteously by the Chinese 'Charge d'Affaires whose English llko his ihanners, was singularly at tractive. The Charge d'Affaires bald it was excellent that two members of the Iritish Parlin- Then with a charming smile ment were going to the Orient. he said that everything would Already he had been in touch Government would London Airport. In a fortnight's Chinese time
cable not only make us welcome but Home would
and everything wo desired, in
nothing La from us and everything reveal,
explained Bay, but what chance was there be in order and we would love with Poking about it and the four of Lords where
Scon, an alarm telephone box equipped with cliff rescue gear will be installed near The Gap. A police spokesman that when the alarm box is ready, wlinesses of diff In- cidents, whether suicide or eldent would have direct con- inel with the nearby Vaucluse police station.
D4+
"The presence of the box may act as a deterrent," he said. "People intending to go over will have to walk right past it. its light will shine all night."
Eight people committed suicide at The Gap last year, and 57 others
suleide contemplating were prevented from jumping,
The New South Wales mem- for Veu- cluse, Mr GS. Cox, recently urged the Slate Government w build a more effective safely fence along the top of the ella,
ON BRIDGE ber of Parliament
Long Huddle Pays The proseal low post-and-rati
Dividend
By OSWALD JACOBY
}
tence round the 20-yard rim at the highest point presents Hitle difcuity to anyone wanting to clamber over it.
Reasons ginen by people who {decide to jump from The Gap
are the same as those
which drive people all over the world
commit
WEST'S opening diamond was to
WE
a tal-psychle lead direct-home
and
suicide broken romanees, financial
ing bid and did not keep North and alih worries, uid age and and South from bidding their | loneliness,
spate game,
Because it affords a fine view
East won the Brst trick with for the coast, The Gap is also a for tourists. the nee of diamonds and took favourite haunt
seen
death
How was either the gypsy Or myselt to kney that in 1914 a beneficent Goverment would offer young men in unitärm a free trip to England and, for good mensure, a further trip to France free?
AVST
Memory is a curious thing but oddly enough I thought of the old
woman's prophecy the other night when a fellow Tory M.P. came up and volunteered the informa- tion that the Government of Formosa would be glad to have me visit General Chiang Kai-Shek and his wife as their guest. He had received a letter from them to that efect and he strongly recommended the acceptance of the invitation.
other
and
to
works, by the President. was truo that Lancashire fiercely resented the compett- tion of cotton Importa' - from Hongkong because the wagen In that far of paradise were lower than in Lancashire. Nevertheless the general trade balance between Britain and Hongkong was favourable to Car Mother Country, With that comforting thought we
Pago 7
Sir Beverley Baxter
Friday....our
last day
arid
in
ww
thanked the President and London. Tomorrow went out on the Terrace would wing our way into the where we had a much needed skles. If only the old woman drink.
at Hanlon's Point could see ma now! And what a relief to be "Dexling," said my wife next leaving London at a moment morning. "I suppose you know when the buses had gone on that you have nothing to wear, stripe. and that you have only a week before you go?"
go,
"You're wanted on the tele- phone. It's Sir Lynn Ungoed- Long happy years of marriage Thomas," said my secretary, have taught me that no woman,
"I'm frightfully sorry," said cpecially the woman I married, Our next port of call was the has ever had any dress to meet Ungoed-Thomas, "but I can't
Lord in
Galtskell wants me to stay unexpected situation. But (pronounce "Hume") the dull uniformity of the male on the job because of the bus strike and n possible railway his ministerial capacity of to dinner Jäckel, to morning hlde Secretary of State for Commen, cost, and just an ordinary sult
to wealth Relations.
of clothes, the male is always reds, age ready. But that is not what my wife thinks.
Generatissimo Calang-Kal-Shek would allow us to see anything wanted to have a chat with us is the very opposite. From tatis, strike. Sarry old boy."
to that effect,
. Two days later Slr Lynn and I set of for a hospital which specialise in serung A Jolly doctor with a pretty nurse duly plugged us and then made a date for a repeal performance in Ave days time. "The next injection will be more severe," he said and then added with n beatifie mlie, have to get to other."
China had
1101 ca
Then the Cuca of the Oriental gentleman narrowed although he smiled widely. "You, of course, are "The Kenns know cuch
templating a visit to Formosa?" he asked. We answered that on the contrary our primary purpose was to go to that exact place.
"I am so sorry," he said.
"What about?" we asked.
He thought that it was an cxcellent Idea for us to go East and see for ourselves and lie would arrange for us to stay with the Governor at Hongkong. But would not ba Pien to drop off at Karachi and good
♫
seen,
"You are going to the tropies."
The glant pear tree in the garden of our St. John's Wood home shook with such violent laughter in the wind that the Terrace and lawn were covered with the corpses of a thousand tuds. But we were not without our moment of. glory. The Sunday Times announced next day that" Sir-Lynn ́ and I hod left for the Far East by air. Al well! It was a close thing.
Calcutta and Singapore and get the sald. Therefore, I have
general idea of what was arranged for you to be ut Shiny going on? We agreed
that son's at 3 o'clock this after while we were at it we ought to noon." So in due COUTSE WC see everything that was to be went to
"We'll go to Le Touquet the admirable "Fur
Instead," said my wife, unless, Back home I discovered tha!
in the Men Only" institution West End my vaccinatlon certificate was
and an hour later course, there is a civil war in France." out of date, so down come my
with "What about the President of Emerged
clothes that local doctor who duly plugged
the Board of Trade?" he asked, would support me for the rest
The telephone rang. It was the me in the arm and then added
"He ought to give you a clear of my life in Africa, Asia, or long-suffering London ropre- "I'll come on dugubriously:
**Wo do not recognise understanding of what's going even Toronto in August. sentative of the Formosa Ġov- a stift Friday and give you
Formosa," he said," I am very, on and some of our problems.”
emment. "I have a message one. Don't take any alcohol
Two days to go and we would from the Generalissimo. Will sorry." And belleve me We agreed that very
no account of days." he there was a note couple
of the be off. Then to the Far East In his voice should we miss any
to Formosa for a
even then 10
via Cairo and India with the September when the weather added. "And
that made it clear that his grief problems that bescl easy on the stuff.”
Gri disappointment were Commonwealth relations. " hocuty of Hongkong and even will be at its best?"" genuine and profound. So we went.
called
A couple of days later my Socialist colleague
me "What's the telephone, the use of going all thut dis- dance," he asked, "unless wo
on
Formosa! Right uctoss the sido of the world! And ail this just 10 visit Ute American-backed Island with the former ruler of Chha and wome Is plang playing wife. Well was an idea and I consulted the Chiet Government Whip. Con- sidering that he is the boss of The Tory chain gang at West- minster he was quite decent about it. "By all means," he said. "But of course you will have to take your pale with other wotos I must arrange with a Socialist M.P. to come with me so that the Government majbrily would not be reduced.
clock of the situation. Obviously, These have often the only way to beat the handicaps, Last year, for example you." In would be to collect two club dozens of horrified tourists tricks mid he had to attack the ruit immediately.
This left him with the problem af which club to fead, Should his partner hold ave-nine-small his choice did not matter, provided his partner would hold back the nee. If South held the ace nothing mattered at all.
watched the struggles of a young man who apparently changed his mind about suicide after jump- ing over the clist.
As they stood in the warm sunshine admiring the scentry, they saw him sliji quietly under the safety fence and sil down. | Alter a few minutes.
suddenly, took off his cost,
he rese
A low lead would give declarer) walk to the edge and jumped.
an automatic low play if he held] the nine so that was out and il was up to East to choose be-
WENT
A 932
NORTH AAKJIB VALODA
• 72
17
43 1004 4ATZ
QB7
24
EAST (D)
8
K051
A803
♣J 1005,
SOUTH 497854 Q42 K3
K↑ 4
North and South vulnerable. East South West North
Duble Puss Pass
Pates PDRA
34 TA Pash
Pass Opening feud♣ Q
tween the ten and the jack. He selected the ten on the theory that a false card play was more likely to work than the natural oile.
31 worked all right. South
He fell clear of the rocks into the sea, and the tourists sow him surface in the rough water and stoti desperately for ten minutes in an attempt to gain the shore. Then he weakened jand sank, and was 3171
more,
10
A
Back in the smoking room I looked around
then and just Sir Lynn Ungoed-Thomas, who Was Solleilor-General 'the last Socialist Administration, came up and said: "Can 1, give you a Bit home? For, sally enough, he lives a hundred yards down from
my house in St John's Wood.
"How would you like lo come with me to Formosa?" i asked when we got into his car,
"Why not?" he replied.
It took some time to convince him that it was not just a joke but when finally the Idea entered his head he was all for Socialist, it. A Tory and a
their political Lake to the differences would skies with a common destina- tion and
of a common sense
About a week previously, 60-year-old man walked to the brink before a group of tourists. "I'm going over."
forgetting he called-
and jumped. Waves breaking over the rocks below washed Els body out to sea before the eyes of the watchers,
1:0
The thought of having to home to his wife and five chil- dren without any Christmas presents drove Q 32-year-old unemployed fireman from New- castle. 100 miles north uí Sydney, to The Gap. He was grabbed by a policeman as le 3 dengling his legs over the cliff,
"Let me gol Why do you stop me?" he called as the constable dragged him to safely.
adventure.
But obviously the first thing was to put in touch with the δει Forinosa representative London and find out exactly how and when it could be done.
All sorts of engagements in London would have to be can- celled--including dinner to the Air Force. Associallon of my
place at the House of Commons
went into long huddle and} A 30-year-old man travelled | constituency which was to take Anally came to the conclusion 500 miles by train from Bris-
that the ten spot was the higher bane, in Queensland, to Sydney on a Saturday night just a fort- card of a doubleton. He played to jump over The Gap. He was the king and when West took foiled by an
niert taxi-driver
is bee and returned the sult who took him from Sydney rail- South was doomed to defeat, way station to The Gap qnd While credit is due East for noticed that he became agituled his deceptive lead, I feel that as he left the cab and began to South should not have fallen for climb the steps to the top of
the cliff. the play. If East held a double- ion club West would have buld five of the sult and probably have chosen to take a would
save at five diamonds against the Vulnerable game contract.
♥+CARD Sense who caught the man before he
Q-The bidding has been:
The driver called a policemant could leap.
night ahead. However, I could get another M.P. to act as host to the ex-airmen, while my wife could do her stuff as the hostess.
So in due course the London representative of the Formosa Government, and Englishman
by the way, came to consult us about the arrangements, “What about your vaccination eesti- ficates?" he asked. "When were you lost viceinsted?" That was a poser. In fact neither of us had been vaccinated for years. "Ah well! You can got that said the agent, "Now
what about typhus"
South Went
The quick-wittedness of taxi-done" North l'ass 2 N.T. Pats 3 N.T. Double Pass
14
1
Poss
34
Pass
↑
Poss Pass
You, South, hold:
43 WAQ 10GB SAJOT SKK3
What do you do?
A-Pass or redouble it you Ilke to gamble. You have your fail valuce and then some. Under no circumstances should you run out to one of your amila.
„TODAY'S QUESTION The bidding has been:
East' Bouth
14
West
You, South, hold:
North
4AQ1005 VK54 6A38743|
tylrut có yuo?
Answer on Monday
drivers and imam and bus con- ductors, who have noticed the odd behaviour of passengers an the run to The Gap, has DEC- vented many suicides,
"Well, what about it?" said Sir Lynn. "Do you think that Baxter and I go about getting Against plugged
Oriental both plagues?”
Often, the rescuers, palice and civilian, jeopardise iheir own lives os they struggle, sometimes ut night, on the top of the cuff with men and womci who want to die,
The agent. miled sweetly, Then of course there is yellow fever," he said, "Have you beca inoculated for yellow fever. recently?"
We shook our heads, and
The recovery of bodies from the rocks below and of people who strike lodges on the way necured him that it was prob down and be injured is another ubly very wrong of us but we wazardous tank. This gruelling † had not bean Inoculated work is done by a special clitegainst yellow, pink or black Tescue police squad, using ropes fover-or oven hay fever. In and other climbing etrulpor
fact we were just a pair of Reuter,
boots who ought to be put in/{
out get him on the phone," said the
"We're not going to be dle. inted to," said my Socialist col-
Minister.
An hour later olven The works,
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उपाध्य come
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In
Well-who knows? Perhaps the old witch at Hanlon's Point right, and 1 really got value for my len cents,
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