The Drowning of Edward Minkwitz
Edward Arthur Minkwitz was born at Nairne in the Adelaide
Hills on 11 November 1904. The son of Paul Richard Minkwitz and Emma Bertha
Amalia Minkwitz, nee Altmann.[1]
Paul Minkwitz owned and operated a chaff mill at Kapunda.
On Sunday 30 December
1923, Edward Minkwitz of Coghill Street, Kapunda, drowned at Semaphore, South
Australia.
Minkwitz worked at the Eudunda Farmers’ Co-operative Society,
Adelaide. He was visiting his uncle, Mr Shaw, and cousin Elma Shaw who lived on
Semaphore Road. Edward was going to return to Kapunda later that day, but Elma convinced
him to take another swim.
The cousins proceeded from the Semaphore
Kiosk into the water together, but at some point, got separated. Elma returned
home for dinner and figured her cousin was enjoying himself still in the
water. However, when he still had not returned in the early afternoon, the Shaw’s
become worried.
At about 11 am, an elderly tourist from Broken Hill, Mr S
Gilbert was standing on the end of the Semaphore jetty when he heard someone
call out. He saw Minkwitz in a panic, bobbing around and sinking into the
water. Gilbert raised the alarm that someone was in trouble. Multiple swimmers
came to rescue Minkwitz, but none were successful.
Harold Ware, a well-known
local sideshow operator, and a strong swimmer, who had only a fortnight before
retrieved the body of John Shoobridge, who had drowned in the same spot, came to
assist.[2]
Ware dived in and out of the water for
three hours, finally retrieving Minkwitz body. He said in a News interview:
"At last I recovered the body in a deep channel that runs
out to sea. about 50 or 60 feet to the north of the jetty, and with the aid of
other bathers placed it in a boat, which conveyed it to the jetty ramp where
Sgt. Wilkins and Constable Hansberry took charge.”
"In my opinion," continued Mr Ware, "the
deep channel, which has made its appearance only this year, is a positive deathtrap
to the unwary, and I consider that the council should take immediate steps to
warn bathers of its presence, particularly in view of the crowds that will throng
the beach, today and tomorrow. It runs out to sea, parallel with the jetty in a
part that is much used."[3]
Minkwitz family travelled to Semaphore from Kapunda on
hearing of his death. The family were interviewed by the local media. One of
his brothers stated that Edward was not a good swimmer, but had learned the
basics in the rivers around Kapunda.
His sister stated: “It is a tragic
coincidence that we lost another brother, aged 20, eight years ago from
illness. He also was staying with his uncle, Mr Shaw at the time”.
Dr Ramsey Smith, City Coroner, decided upon reading the
police report that no inquest into the death was necessary.
© Allen Tiller 2021
