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Copy.
Enclosure /.
220
1
Hon. Colonial Secretary,
I regret to have to report the death by syncope
and drowning of Warder Duckworth et Repulse Bay on Sunday last the 9th inst.
Warder Duckworth was one of a party of warders who were bathing. They were all more or less together and fairly close to the shore, less than 50 yards away according to the statement of those present. The first man to dive in announced to the others that he could stand where he came
up, a few yards from the launch.
Mr. Duckworth was last seen by Warder Fitzgerald
at about 4.45. He was then about 10 yarde from the launch
and swinning towards it. Fitzgerald says in his opinion it
was not necessary to swim at that point, as the water would
not have been more than 5 feet deep.
Another Warder (Paice) believes that it was poss- ible to stand beside the launch but no one seems to have
attempted to do so.
Fitzgerald did not pay much attention to the fact
that Duckworth did not follow him into the boat as he was
busy dressing and thought, if he thought about it at all, that the deceased was still emusing himself in the water.
He could not see because he had to remain under the awning
while he was taking off his bathing suit and putting on his
clothes.
Mr. Duckworth although not a good swimmer could,
I gather, swim quite well enough for the occasion,
As soon as he was missed i.e. when all the party were on board, Warder Johnson said he had seen him running on the sand shortly before, and the whole lot set off for
the shore to look for him.
They had hardly been there a minute before a
sampan