LAUNCH TRAGEDY.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1972, 31 January 1914, Page 6

LAUNCH TRAGEDY.

OFF TAKAPUNA BEACH. ■ \ i LADY & ATHLETE. DROWNED. PARTY PROSTRATED. THE MAN'S HEROIC .CONDUCT. (By Toltgraph.—Press ' JkesociatiOn,) Auckland, January 30. A party of ten young people, including four ladies, returning in a motor-launch from a trip in the Gulf, encoimtet-ed a, heavy sea off Takapuna Beach. The launch shipped a big ware, and Miss Myrtle Rowan and Ray Beviaa were washed overboard.

The launch was stopped, and W. Good and Robert Gordon dived overboard. Bovins was got aboard, but Miss Rewan and Gordon were drowned. Tbe launch cruised about a long time eearclring in the. dark without success,.

Miss Mary Rowan, sister of the girl lost, is suffering from severe hysteria in conscqucube of.the tragedy, and her condition is causing anxiety. Gordon was twenty-four years of nge, and a flon of Mr. Samuel Gordon, contractor. Miss Rowan was eighteen yeara old, and was tho daughter.of Mr. R. Rowan, .agricn!turar inspector. Both resided at Mount Eden.. ' . .

The launch party consisted of Myrtle ■Rowan, Mary Rowan, and Hazel Taylor (of TakapunaV, Alice Gray (Northcotc), Messrs. B. • Cowley? (Ponsonby), Bay Bevins, Robert '■ Gordon, W. Good, RickardsNoel Cole, and Robert Colo.

HOW IT HAPPENED. STRUGGLE TO SAVE MISS ROWAN. (By. TeleffrApli.—Bpooiftl oorr6SDon<lcni,J . Auckland, January 30. .Tho. circumstances surrounding tho drowning of Miss'. Myrtle Rowan and Robert Gordon from the launch ATteno aro particularly distressing. After visit-ing'Deep'.Creek, tho part? was returning, and had roßched the Kangitoto Channel. There was a big sea, and a strong \yind, and the ladies of tho party were (with tho exception of Miss Jlyrtle Rowan) soon seized with soa sickness. So violent, was tho. tossing of tho craft in the heavy, seas thfit, onp by one, the girls went below, until only.Mi&s. Myrtle Rowan'remained on deck'. Most of the men also sought shelter in tho cabin, Hay Bevins remaining on deck with Miss Rowan.

Gordon had just gone below when a lieavy rain squall ewept. up, and Bovine proceeded to fix a tarpaulin, to protect tho two of them-from tho weather. Ho had just got !it rigged to .his satisfaction,, and tho. two were seating thorn* selves under tho shelter, when an unusually heavy eea struck the lauflch, causing her to plunge wildly, while, at the same time, a cataract of water poured across tho deck, and the next moment both were struggling in the water. Tho steersman saw them disappearing overboard, and the launch was immediately sot about, and headed for the pair, who had now been left some little distance astern.

Callant Conduct, Ray Eevins, in relating what followed tho washing overboard of Miss Rovrah'and himself, states:, "It was alt bo. sudden that Miss Rowan and I wore- in the water before we knew'what had happened, .but, in a flash as' it seemed, tho launch was churning and tossing along ahead, while I was supporting tho: girl as well as I could in tho big sea. For what seemed like fiveor six minutes, I held on to her, and then tho launch camo up, and I saw Mr. W.. Good and Mr. Gordon tlivo overboard to onr assistance. Gordon swam to us, and cried out f 'lt is all right'; I have got a rope," aad then 1 seemed to lose consciousness, for I don't remember being pulled on board, but found myself lying on the bottom of tho launch. , '

Cordon's Llfe-Hne Fetches Looso,

According to the account of others on tho launch, it appears' that, when tho boat put about, one of them cut the fastenings of tho dinghy, which was secured on deck, with the intention ©f launching it, but, in tho heavy seaway, it broko clear, arid was swept away, .oero was a lifebelt on the launch, but, in tho excitement, no one appears to have thought of it. Air tho boat approached the two who were struggling m the waves, Good sprang overboard, and swam towards thorn, while, a. moment or two later, Gordon dived over, holding the end of a rope, the other end of which was either made fast to tho launch, or grasped by one of tho crew. Gordon reached the girl, and attempted to fasten tho rope round nor, while the launch ranged alongside. ,Thfl \other two ' men who were hauled in over the side, Bevius's boinu in a , very exhausted condition.' , ; Wliuo this was happening,' tho rope, in some way, got'loose from , the kuricli' and was swept away with Gordon and Miss Rowan, both of whonvaad disappeared. ' ; '. .'

Searchlight' Turned On. Greatly agitated, the others started: tho engine and began to cruise aro'untf, and half an hour was spent wjth, the aid of tho searchlight; in sweeping the locality of tho accident, but with m> result. It was then decided' to continue the journey to Auckland, and imiriematoly upon arrival at tho wharf about 9 o'clock the accident was reported to the Water Police.' ' -.-■■.

The shock was naturally a very great one to the'other member's of the party, several of the men being so' upset' that they were unable'to give a coherent account of tho accident on 'arrival, while Miss Mary Sovran' suffered «o acutely through the tragic loss o£ tier sister that her condition became serious. This morning an opiate had to bo administered,, and she then benefitted considerably by a sleep.

A v resident of Narrow Neck, who lives on the cliff overlooking tho Narrow Neok beach, happened to bo scanning tho Bca about, the timo of the accident last ovening. Tho sea waa running very and just about dusk a. very heavy rain squall came up, increasing the fury of the sea. As ho looked ho noticed, just.after tho squall passed, a laUnch toseing wildly in the waves, and apparently in difficulties, and presently ho saw a small boat leave her. He thought no more about it at the tittle, as the launch disappeared in tho growing gloom, but it was evident that what ho saw was the Artono at the time that vain efforts were being made to rescue Misa Rowan.

Cordon's Career as an Athlete. Tho death of Mr. Robert Gordon has created gloom in athletic circles, and in tlio Now Zealand Insurance Office, on tho staff of which ho wns a very popular member. He was an enthusiastic 'cricketer and footballer, and last season captained the Auckland representative B team which visited Taranaki. Ho was also a prominent member of tho Eden Cricket Club, and only last Saturday played for Eden against Ponsonhj', Ho was 24 years of ago,- and was the son of Mr. Gordon, of tho well-known contracting firm of Gordon and Mays, and, like tlio other male members of the party, ho was a good swimmer. It is stated that ho had recently become engaged to Miss Mary Rowan.