SAD CATASTROPHE.—A BOAT'S CREW LOST.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3769, 14 August 1883, Page 3

SAD CATASTROPHE. —A BOAT'S CREW LOST.

Nelson, This day

A dreadful catatrophe occurred this morning, by Avhich four of the pilot creAV Avere drowned. The steamer AVanaka came doAvn to the anchorage about 4 o'clock, when it Avas so intensely dark that it Avas almost impossible to see one's hand at a distance of a fe*v inches. Notwithstanding the dangers of the gale, with a high sea, the pilot and crew responded to the signal from the steamer and put off to her. The boat Avas safely steered to the ship's side, and Captain Loav, the pilot, jumped on board the steamer, and at once the boat turned to come back into the harbor. The ship's officer who Avas on duty states, that it Avas about 4.30 when the boat left, and that directly she got away he saw a big sea come along, and directly it passed he heard the men in the boat shout out, "AYe aro all right, but our oars are gone." He then imagined they were setting their sail, but darkness prevented him from seeing more. It appears too certain that the succeeding wave swamped the boat, for at daylight it Avas found bottom up just behind the Fifeshire rock. The names of the four men Avho composed the creAV arc William Morrison, a AvidoAver, but Avith several children; AVilliam Reader, a Avidower; Richard Thomas, single, knoAvn as ' * Little Dick '' ; and a foreigner named Hans Johansen, also single. Several boats haAe gone out in search of the missing men.