YACHTING TRAGEDY

Evening Star, Issue 20051, 17 December 1928, Page 6

YACHTING TRAGEDY

IHQUEST OH TWO VICTIMS FOUR BODIES STILL UHRECOVERED Since November 11, when six of the crew of the yacht Bute were drowned when the boat capsized in a squall in the channel between Goat and Quarantine Islands, only one body has been recovered. , , , , Janies Jeffrey was brought aboard, the ' ferry steamer in an unconscious condition, and died before tiro steamer reached Dunedin, while the body of Archie Bell was recovered a fortnight later. The only survivor was Victor Francis Duel). To-day the coroner (Mr H. V. Bundle, S.M.) held an inquest on the bodies of James Jeffrey and Archie Bell. The bodies of Robert Kinmard Jeffrey, Alexander Jeffrey, Janies 8011, and Sydney Alexander Harbourne arc still unxecovered. Sergeant Isbister conducted the inquest on behalf of the police. The sole survivor, Victor Braucis Duell, a carpenter, of 23 Norwood street, gave evidence that all the party had spent the night at Jeffrey’s crib at Macandrew Bay, and had gone down to Quarantine Island in the yacht Bute. James Jeffrey was the skipper. On the return trip they loft the island at 1 p.m. A reef was taken in the sail. A gusty souMvoster was blowing, and a heavy sea was running, When tney reached the channel a gust of wind struck the boat, and she capsized just as she was breaking tack. All the partv were thrown into the water. Witness swam back to the boat. Alex. Jeffrey was on the bow, Jeffrey, sen., was climbing on to the stern, and James Bell was floating nearby. That was all ho saw at that time. Mr Jciiroy called out for Bob Jeffrey, Juid be thought ho heard Archie Bell call out for Jim, who floated close to the boat. Witness grabbed hold of him, but the boat again turned over, and bo lost his grip. When ho again reached the boat Alex. Jeffrey was still holding on to the bow. Witness felt somebody catch hold of him under water, and he had to force the .man to let go his grip. With the assistance ot a. rope witness managed to haul himself on to the keel of the boat. He then saw Archie 801 l floating towards Quarantine Island. Mr Jeffrey was still on the bow. Archie Jeffrey was the only other of the party whom ho saw. The ferry steamer, he noticed, was coming towards the yacht, and he called for help. The boat was then midway between Quarantine and Goat Island. The steamer came to windward of tho derelict. The Bute then sank. Witness lot go his hold and came up under the ferry boat. Coming to tho surface, he caught hold ot a rope and was hauled aboard. Jeffrey, sen., was unconscious when he was brought to tho steamer. The Magistrate: What sort of yacht was it?—lt was a sixteen-footer, partly decked in. , , Had any of the party had experience?—Yes. Wo had all been out yachting before, and James and Ales. Jeffrey had had some experience. Henry Guyton, a builder, residing at 34 Rosebery street, who was a passenger on the ferry steamer on the day of the fatality, said that only one man was clinging to the Bute after she had passed under the steamer. One oi the members of the Ravensbonrne Band jumped over and held the man up till the dinghy came alongside. Tho Coroner; Who was the man who jumped overboard? Sergeant Isbister: We have no information on that point. Artificial respiration was attempted on James Jeffrey until the ierry steamer arrived at Dunedin, said witness, but the doctor could only pronounce life extinct. William John Watson, a tailor said that he was on a boat between I ort Chalmers and Quarantine Island on November 25, when ho noticed a body in the water. The body was secured, and, after being identified as that of Archie Bell, was removed to Port Chalmers. ... Corroborative evidence was tenclcroJ. “The facts in this distressing fatality are as clear as they could possibly be,” said the coroner. 1 remember tho particular day. In tho morning tho weather was calm, hut m tho afternoon a sou’-wcsterly gale was blowing. It was au extremely gusty wind, and tho spot where the yacht capsized was a most dangerous one—probably one of the most dangerous in the harbour. Tho boat was sailing against the wind, which caught it, ami over it went, the occupants being thrown into the water. Unfortunately the ferry boat was not on tho sceno till some little time later. There is only the evidence of Mr Duell as to what took place after the men were thrown into the water. It appears that some held on to the boat, and in the end only Mr Jeffrey and Mr Duell were got aboard the ferry boat. When Mr Jeffrey was taken aboard, the yacht, which” had become submerged tv this time, was some distande away. Someone, said to* be a bandsman, pluckily swam out and assisted Mr Jeffrey, sen., who was brought on hoard the ferry boat, but who died. Only one body has been recovered since.” “The evidence is quite clear, eoncontinued Mr Bundle, “ and one cap only find that the deceased were accidentally drowned on November H, 1928, iii Otago Harbour.” The Coroner remarked that the other bodies had not yet been recovered, but, if necessary, formal inquests could be held later if any wore recovered.