Drowning Fatality in Wellington Harbour.

Feilding Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 183, 5 February 1897, Page 2

Drowning Fatality in Wellington Harbour.

o (Per Press Association). . Wellington, February 4. ] The Men-of-war's boats have been engaged in sailing races while in the har- i bonr. The Wollaroo's galley won the ; Admiral's Cup, and this afternoon cutters , from tho Orlando, Lizzard and Wallaroo competed for Lady Brassey's Cup. Un- : fortunately a very strong northerly breeze was blowing, and off Point Jerningbam j two of the boats capsized and two seamen were drowned, the remainder being •« rescued by the other boats. No particulars are available. -. Later. , It turns out tbat oaly one man was drowned, J. Robinson, a marine belonging to H.M.g. Lizard. There were five J boats in the race and those which capsized were the Lizard's cutter and gig. ■, Going round a buoy a sea canght the cutter on the lee side and before she could right herself another sea scruck and swamped her. She gradually sank and left the men struggling in the water. The gig attempted to go to the rescue 1 but was swamped as well. The men en- , deavonred to hold on to the boats but they turned over and over and made il , difficult to do so, and the majority supi ported themselves by oars, water beakers ■ and anything that was floating. The Wallaroo's galley picked most of them up, and though the other boats helped \ - the men say that but for her more must have been drowned. She was hampered in her movements by the fact tbat wash board a were fixed alongside and prevented the use of oars. Robinson was unable to hold on and had disappeared beforo assistance reached bim, nor has his body yet been found.