WHANGAPE LAUNCH ACCIDENT.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 29, 29 October 1907, Page 7

WHANGAPE LAUNCH ACCIDENT.

A SURA 7 IVOR'S GRAPHIC STORY. , [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN COBIIESPONDENI.] Auckland, October 28. Quito the best story yet told in connection wit!) the recent launch fatality at Whangape, is that contained in a letter from Wi Hare, one of tho Native survivors,, to a cousin in Auckland. After describing how the capsizo came without warning, and how,, foreseeing danger, ho'stripped, ore everything but his socks, Wi Hare goes on:— "Immediately the launch unset I was carried away by a huge wave, but was put back again to tho launch. Whether-.the sea put mo buck to the launch, or the launch followed mo up, I cannot say, but I found myself hanging on the keel once more. Before tho waves linnlly parted mo from the launch, however, i :.ied ono of my white brethren :i fow yards away on his" own. 1 could seo that ho just could manage to keep himself afloat. 1. stretched my arm out, but he was. out of my reach. Just then apiece of timber from the wreck came thundering past mo. It struck partly the launch and myself. T quickly grasped it, thus giving me a final parting with the launch. -Mounting-tho piece of timber, I started off 'like a good one,' glancing at every side to see my poor chums. 1 had not gone very far when J. saw my white brother again, and this time his head was almost under water, ami just the tips of his lingers above water, as much as waving farewells for the last time. . Giving an extra kick I shoved tho timber from underneath of mo and immediately it-.struck iny brother's hands. Ho evidently thought- th'at ho had struck .a -mountain, for he quickly grasped it and stuck to it liko glue. That timber, saw him- safely to good;- old earth once again, leaving mo unarmed- to battlo the wave 3. I thought timo had conio for me to make for somewhere. Hero I . started. Although not so very far from land, as,l could see the mountains now and again, it soomed a thousand miles. However, I kept on, keeping my head and shoulders pretty well above water. Many adivo I had, and many a mouthful of salt water. At somo of-the dives I thought I. was not coming up to tho surface again, but every time I smiled at tho fishes they shoved me back again -to tho surface. I could hear cries, for help from my comrades as tho .wind passed mo, and I could hear, farewells and good-byes. This made my blood run-cold. ..The-.last. I saw was -my-Maori, brother with two of .my white brethren. They were .a,few yards apart from bno another. The Maori,breathed his last words to mo, ,'Haere ra.rhoo' (farewell, my comrades), and when I looked round ho was Kono. I heard a, 'good-bye' from my" other white brethren, whom. I. believed to bo tho Wallaco brothers. WJW-her they wore saying good-bye to me or bidding goodbyes to. themselves," that 1 could,not s.iy, but, responding to tho 'good-byo' Uooked round and they also both disappeared. When I: saw my dear comrades disappearing to tho bosom,of the deep in my very presence I felt my blood running dry within mo. Every time I stretched forth my.right arm I never know it would ever come back to me again, as the spot 1 now struggled in is swarmed with sharks of all shapes and sizo3. When ,1 reached. the slibr'e I found mysolf naked, .with but a.pair of socks to cover me. Good Samaritans, however,.'quickly, found me. They bound my wounds, all quickly and attended to all my" necessities."