Fatal Boat Accident

Feilding Star, Volume XI, Issue 28, 20 August 1889, Page 3

Fatal Boat Accident

Wkllingtox, August 18. A sad fatal boat accident happened at the Heads last night, by which Chief Pilot T. K Simms, Herbert Cox, and Robert Tait Jost th< j ir lives. It appears that shortly after dusk the ship Pleione from Port Chalmers to Wellington arrived off the Heads, and signalled for a pilot. Pilot Simms, with a crew of four, comprising the two drowned and John Henderson and James Daes at once put off. A stiff southerly wind was blowing, with a short choppy sea, and this being dead ahead, little progress was made. Shortly after 7 o'clock the steamer Herald, outward bound to Greymouth hove in sight, and took the pilot boat in tow. All went well until abreast of the outer rock, of Barrett's Beef, when the boat yawed and capsized. She was released from tow, as the tow line was not made fast, and all the men managed to get on her bottom. Shortly afterwards the boat righted herself, and for the secoud time the crew reached the boat, which is a lifeboat. Immediately the accident occurred, Captain Jones returned with the Herald, and after considerable difficulty the boat with the whole of the crew was got alongside. Lines were passed over the side, and, although caught by all, only Dass and Henderson appeared to have sufficient strength to hang on. The other three, either from exhaustion, or becoming numb, released their grasp and were washed away. A strict search was made, but none of 'hem wtra Been again. The Herald coutioued her search for the boat, but was unable to find it, and returned to town with the survivors, Later in the evening the Koran ui found the boat abreast (f the Pilot Station, and brought it into the harbour. From examination it was seen that the steer- oar grummet is broken. If that was done before the accident, it would, of course, leave the boat at the mercy of the waves, but it is supposed to have occurred after the capsize. Pilot Simms leaves a wife and seven children. Cux is a married man without family, Tait is a single man, and a native of tLe Shetland Islands. Pilot Simms was formerly harbour pilot, and only recently succeeded Pilot Holmes at the Heads.