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Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2012, 22 February 1907, Page 2

MAN OVERBOARD. LOST FROM SCOW AVAIKONINI. 'Dio scow Waikonini arrived at j yostorday morning after a very rougli passage from Mercury Bay. About sovon miles off Port A wanin' an A. 8., named Ous Hanley, was lost overboard. Captain Swanson’s account of the occurrence is as follows:—At 3 p.m. on Wednesday we camo round Fast Cape. It was blowing hard from the north. A heavy sea was running at Port Awanui, which wo wore off at 4.45 p.m. Hanley relieved mo at the wheel, when I went to get my tea. We wero steering a course south, with half a point to west. While all, excepting Hanley, were below getting ton, the foreboom jibed over. I at once went on deck. Hanley was not at the wheel, which was secured. 1 sang out, “Where are you, Gus?” hut received no reply. The rest of the crow came on deck, but he was not to bo seen. The vessel was hauled on to tho wind, and we tried to boat to windward. Nothing could bo seen from tho masthead, and we cruised about till 6 p.m. Wo then discovered the fact that the life-buoy had been taken. Wo thought that he had lowered himself quietly into the sea; he could not have fallen overboard. Tho sea was rough, and as tho coast was about seven miles distant ho could not very well have swam ashore, which I am very doubtful if ho was able to do. Hanley is described as an eccentric person, and was melancholy on the morning in question. At 0 p.m. the vessel left the scone and came on to Gisborne. Hanloy was a single man, aged 39. He has no relatives in the colony so fas as is known.