THREE MEN DROWNED.

Gisborne Times, Volume XII, Issue 1081, 24 December 1903, Page 3

THREE MEN DROWNED.

THilßid RESCUED, COROMANDEL, Monday. A yachting accident, which .resulted in the drowning of three men, took place near Coromandel on Sunday. Jt appears that in the morning a party of six—namely,Messrs Donald Cal tier, William Edgar, James Roil. Patrick l’etlcy, James Kirk, and a iad Leslie Roil, 13 years old, went out for a day’s yaohting in the yacht, Kathleen, a half-decker. There was a still south-west wind blowing all day About noon, tho party landed Ol r Goat Island, and prepared dinner. When ashore, several other yachting parties joined them. About 2p. 111., the wind still blowing pretty fresh, the different crews joined their yachts, the Kathleen making for the sheltered side of Pita’s Island. When about a mile off the island, opposite the peach trees, the anchor was let go, the two foresails taken down, and two of the crew stood up with the mainsail halyards in their hands ready to lower the sail. A ( sudden squall came ’down on them, . filled the sail, and the yacht heeled ' over and commenced to fill with wa- ■ ter, and all hands were thrown into j the water. Mr Petley says he jumped from the stern of the vessel, as he. was afraid Jne might be sucked! down by the, yacht. Presently he saw Kirk close to him, and young Roil near by, and Older and Roil swimming strong.

There was a strong sea running, and the waves were beating right in their faces as they made for the island. For about 20 minutes Kirk and Petley swam side by side, when Kirk began to drop back, and presently sang out to Petley, “ Good-bye, I cannot keep up'any loqgcr.” Just at this time Petley saw a sail coming towards them, and called hack, “ Keep up, Jim, here is a boat coming towards us.” Kirk says that this gave him courage to keep up a little longer. When the boat capsized, young Roil shouted out for help, but his father told him to save his wind, as lie would want it all to reach land.

Edgar evidently went down with the yacht, as no one saw him after. Caldcr and Roil, both good swimmers, kept up for some time. Roil was the second to disappear, and Kirk saw Calder disappear.

The hoy’s escape is a marvellous one, as he had on a heavy pair of boots and all hit) clothes, and must have been over half-an-hour in the water before rescued by Mr Pita. Mr Pita says lie had landed on his island, and was getting some dinner ready, when he saw the Kathleen casting anchor. About one mile from tiie island he saw the two head sails taken down., When he started to clean some sclinapper, which they had caught, he thought lie heard .someone shouting, but again thought it was the sea-birds. After he had cleaned the fish, he looked in the direction where he last saw the Kathleen, hut she had disappeared. He told his mate, Galland, and presently they saw some black objects in the water. They rushed down and. got sail up in their boat, and first picked up Petley, and in about one minute after got Kirk, and further along got young Roil, hut could find no trace of Calder, Edgar* or the elder Roil.

Edgar was a very old Coromandel miner, and well known all over the ’district. He leaves a wife and grown-up son and daughter.

James Roil had been about seven years in Coromandel, Was a blacksmith, and captain of the fire brigade for several years. He leaves a wife and four young childrtn. He has a brother in Canterbury, and a sister in Pahiatua.

Calder is well known in Auckland, where he lived for many years, and his mother is residing in Auckland.

He leaves a wife and five children* the youngest a baby. Great sympathy is felt for the widow and children in their sad loss.

Quite a gloom was cast over the place when the news became known, as cacli of the men were so well known and respected. Calder and Petley were expert yachtsmen. Petley attributes the! accident to the sheet being fastened down, and the sudden squall coming on them from the opposite direction where the wind was blowing.—N.Z. Herald.