With all the advantages beautiful and romantic Pootoo has to offer as a holiday resort there is one black feature which receives emphasis with every season, for scarcely a year passes without at least one bathing tragedy there, or, at the best, some very narrow escape. The surf bathing there is admittedly glorious and invigorate ing, but it is distinctly dangerous and as the week-end trips to Pootoo seem now to be established "5 a regular feature of the sunimer programme, it is not out of place to suggest that they might be still more attractive if the promoters made some provision in the shape of guard-boats and lifelines for the safety of bathers. It will be re membered that last season, even so fine an athlete and capable a swimmer as Mr, H. D. Rodger had to make a desperate fight when going to the rescue of a ess accomplished bather.
During the trip before the last, a young Portuguese, who also is a very fine swimmer, got into such difficulties that his life was only saved through several others linking hands and wading out to his assistance. During this last weekend stil! worse happened, for, though one man's life was saved, there is every reason to fear that: another Shanghai man has drowned. A visitor who was bathing on Saturday felt the strong current to be pulling him away and called lustily for help. Fortunately there were several others near by and, by linking hands, they were able to pull him hack to safety.
Before this had happened, Mr. C. Manners, 0.8.E., and some others were talking together, when Mr. H. G. Foster joined in the conversation and led up, to the subject: of bathing. Mr. Manners, who is not an expert swimmer and therefore is the more cautious, said, in effect, "Tf you don't know this place, you take my advice and be mighty careful where you go swimming. You can see from here what the currents are like and they are not to be despised." He then pointed out how the currents were running and explained what a strong under-pull there was.
Despite this warning, about 10 o'clock Mr. Foster was seen by Mr. Manners swimming in the surf far out in the smaller bay. There were only two others on the beach at the time and by shouting and whistling they managed to attract Mr Foster's attention and signalled to. him to come in. This he did and a. lady who was then passing and had seen what was going on called to the men to "give it him strong" when he got. to the shore. Mr. where the water is shallow enough to ba quite safe, but, as he showed no intention of coming out and continued swimming about well within his depth, the others turned away."
DisapPeaRep.
A minute or two later they were horrified to see that he had again turned seawards and was breast-the breakers, apparently quite confidently, considerably farther out. He was much too far away ior anybody to get to him and only occasional glimpses could be seen of him as he rose on the breakers, but suddenly he was lost sight of altogether. At that moment Mr.
H. McMichael and some others came up and it was suggested that the former's lifeline could be used, but a diligent search failed to reveal any trace of the unfortunate man and he has not been seen since. Of course, thera is the possibility that he was washed far out to sea and, if able to keep afloat, might be picked up, but it is a very remote chance and it seems only too probable that he has been drowned, Mr. Foster was a quiet and reserved man and very little is known of him. He was apparently about 30 years of age and had been in Shanghai about three years. He was formerly with Messrs, Andersen, Meyer & Ca., but about a year ago ho started in business for himself as a sanitary engineer, under the style of Foster & Ca. Ponies made a strong appeal to him and he taught himself to ride sufficiently well to be accepted as a trooper in the Light Horse, the work of this unit. becoming apparently his principal hobby and in a special order notifying the sad occurrence Major E. H. Me-Michael refers to him as "one of the most enthusiastic and hard. working members."
Hour Horse MessoriaL Sprvice.
The comradeship existing in the Light Horss, S.V.C., was strikingly manifest on Wednesday at a me-narial service held at Holy Trinity Cathedral for the late Trooper H. G. Foster Trooper Foster had been a member of the Squadron but a short while, yet there was a very strong muster of his comrades to pay tributes to his memory, the greater part of about 100 people attending the service being members of the Light Horse. Major E. H. McMichael was present with his officers and Mrs, McMichael, Paymaster-Commander M. Green-and Major A. G. W. Grierson represented the Royal Navy, Capt. W. J. N. Dyer, the S.V.C. Staff and there were ~also present Capt. A. S. Campbell of the Shanghai Scottish and members of other units of the S8.V.C.
The Dean, the Very Rev. C. J. F. Symons, opened the service with appropriate prayers, after which the Dead March in "Saul" was played. with the congregation standing. The Sub-Dean, the Rev. C. E. Spencer, who, as well as the Dean, is a chaplain in the 8.V.C., read the lesson and the short service closed with the singing of "O God, our Help in Ages Past."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.