Loss of Life.

Hastings Standard, Issue 387, 31 July 1897, Page 3

Loss of Life.

BODY WASHED ASHORE. TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE IN THE CARPENTER'S DINGY. EIGHT MEN AT THE MERCY , .OF THE SEA. AN EXHAUSTED CREW CAPSIZED IN THE SURF. TWO MEN DROWNED. [By Telegraph.] (Per Press Association.) Gisborne, July 30, 7 p.m. A body has been found on the beach at Muriwai, 14 miles from Gisborne. 7.30 p.m. The carpenter's boat wai late this afternoon with eight of the crew on board. A sailor and passenger are missing, having evidently been washed overboard. 9 p.m. Later information from Muriwai is to the effect that the carpenter's boat capsized oil Kawakawa beach, a few miles away, and its occupants, eight in number, had a great straggle to reach the shore. Two of them—one . a passenger and the other a member of the crew -were drowned and their bodies washed up on the beach. One, the sailor, had a deep gash, evidently inflated by the rocks. The six survivors are beinc sheltered bv the settlers in the vicinity. They are in a terribly exhausted condition, and men tatty and physically unfit at present to give any particulars. The two bodies remain on the Kawakawa beach in charge of the settlers and will be brought into town first thing in the morning for identification and inquest. Midnight. • Three of the survivors of the capsized boat are . Jones (a son of a carter at Makaraka, Poverty Bay), Alex. Betts (whose father, Charles Betts, is a milkman in Auckland), and M'Ritchie. one of the boat's cew. Jones, interviewed, said that there were eight of them in the boat, which was a dingy, and after they left the ship they stayed in the vicinity for three hours. Then, missing the other boats, they started off and cruised ' about all night. .The little craft was badly buffetted by the heavy seas, and as they bad only one pair of rowlocks the task of navigating her became very severe. Their endurance at last gave out, and being in a state of collapse, they decided to, if possible, run her ashore. By this time they were being driven on to the land a few miles to the south of YouDg Nick's Head, which is the southernmost point of Poverty Bay, although they were at the time unaware of their exact position. As the boat neared the shore it was found quite impossible, with only two paddles aud the men so exhausted, to retain command of the dingy, and when she got into the breakers she at once turned over, and her crew were precipitated Into the water. The two men who were drowned, >Jones thinks, could swim, but were dashed to death on the rocks. He himself had a great struggle for life, and was severely bruised on the side. The steward, Bee, was also badly knocked about, and has a nasty gash on one of his eyes. After landing on the beach some time after 9 o'clock the six survivors had to walk over the hills in the direction of a settler named Bartlett, but several of them were so exhausted that they had to be left behind, and were subsequently picked np by Dixon, the Nuhaka mailman, and conveyed into "Woodbine -Johnson's. Betts had much difficulty in reaching the latter place, but is now reported to be recovering. Jones is unable to give the names of the men who were drowned. The number of the Tasmania s passengers was increased yesterday by the addition of a little one, a steerage passenger giving birth to a chikl. Many of the Tasmania's crew landed here without a penny in their pockets, and with the scantiest of clothing, for the men had been called on the deck and set to work to launch the boats immediately the vessel struck, and had no time to go back and get warmer clothing. They have all lost their kits. It is necessary therefore that some help be provided them, and upon the matter being suggested by the Hon Mr Carroll a very general feeling was expressed that funds should be collected for their aid. It was decided to hold an entertainment to-morrow night to raise lands. A bumper house is assured. It is probable that the enquiry into the wreck will be held at Auckland, whither Captain McGee and his officers will leave by the Tarawera to-morrow.