A MOTOR LAUNCH FATALITY.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14889, 31 January 1914, Page 14

A MOTOR LAUNCH FATALITY.

♦ TWO YOUNG PEOPLE DROWNED. irRESS ASSOCIATION XZMCGIUU.) AUCKLAND, January 30. A party of nine young people, including four ladies, when returning in a motor launch from a trip in the Gulf last night, encountered a heavy 6ea off Takapuna baach. The launch shipped a big wave, which washed Miss Myrtl© Itowan and Ray Bevins overboard. The launch was stopped, and WGood and Robert Gordon dived after the girls. Bevins was got aboard, but j Miss Rowan and Gordon wore drowned. | Tho launch cruised about for a long j time searching in the dark, without success. Miss Mary Itowan, sister of the girl who was lost, is said to be suffering from severe hysteria in consequence of the tragedy, and her condition is causing anxiety. Robert Gordon, who was 24 years of age, was the son of Mr Samuel Gordon, contractor. Miss Itowan, aged 18, was the daughter of-Mr R. Rowan, agricultural inspector. Both resided in the Mount Eden borough; ■ Later. The launch party consisted of Misses Myrtle Rowan, Mary Rowan, Hazel Taylor (Takapuna), Alice Gray (Northcote), Messrs B. Cowley Ray Bevins, Robert Gordon, W: Good, Rickards, Noel Cole, and Robert Cole. Opposite Lake Takapuna the launch was tossing about considerably, and three of the ladies, being seasick, went below, leaving Myrtle Itowan, Bevins, and Gordon on top of the cabin. It started to rain heavily, and Gordon went into shelter, Bevins arranging a tarpaulin to shelter Miss Rowan and liimsolf. A big sea came on board, and as the launch gave a lurch, Miss Rowan and Bevins went overboard very suddenly. WTiile Bevins supported Miss Rowan in tho water the launch brought about,aijd when the launch was near them W. Good and Robert Gordon, the latter carrying a line,' dived overboard. Rain was falling and a heavy sea running. "They both came alongside of us," said Bevins in his statement to: the folice. "Gordon said,. 'All right, •have , got a rope.' I don't remember anything more until I found myself lying On tho floor of tile launch." Good said: "Tlio boat ranged alongside of ms, and Gordon, came alongside of the girl. As far as I know he was trying to tie the rope around her when Bevins and mysolf were pulled aboard by. the others on the boat. Miss Rowan and Gordon were carried away out of our sight. We had a dinghy strapped on board, and the 6trap was untied and the dinghy lowered, but sho was carried away by the sea."