MARLBOROUGH.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume IV, Issue 201, 18 November 1864, Page 3

MARLBOROUGH.

MARLBOROUGH REGATTA. TWO BOATS CAPSIZED AND TWO LIVES LOST. The annual Regatta took place on Tuesday, 2nd inst., and was attended by two melancholy’ events, the capsizing of one boat and the drowning of one man, and the sinking of another and the loss of another life. The previous night bad been rainy and boisterous, and the first accident, which took place about ten in the morning of the regatta day, is thus described by the Marlhorovyh Press: — “A sailing boat—the Greenwich—with four men, was seen steering for the jetty with sails all set the little craft careening ove r to its gunwale’s edge under the strength of the breeze. Onward it came at a fast pace, rising buoyantly upon the crests of the waves, when suddenly a cry of horror was raised by the bystanders looking on the water from the left side of the jetty, which thrilled through every nerve of those who heard it. Shrieks from the women followed, and in an instant every eye was turned in the direction pointed out. The boat had suddenly capsized, as suddenly sunk, and four souls were seen struggling in the water for very life. ‘To the boats, to the boats,’ were the words from a hundred voices. ‘A guinea for the first boat to the spot,’ cried a man rushing down to the steps, and in a few seconds several boats manned by strong and able rowers, were pulling in the direction of the catastrophe. Pour men were still above the water, struggling desperately for life. But soon there was a second shout of horror. One head had disappeared below the surface, and was never seen to rise again. Three men were now to be saved. At this time full a dozen boats were pulling with more than racing speed towards the spot, and all became a confused sight from the wharf. The heart of ever spectator palpitated with excitement, so deeply anxious were all to ascertain who had been saved or who had been lost. Presently several boats were seen pulling in the direction of the shore, when the fate of those m the capsized boat was speedily ascertained. Three had been saved, and one had gone to his long account, a watery grave closing so sud-

denly and so cruelly over his earthly career. Every effort -was made to recover the lost body without avail.”

The second accident occurred during the race, and it is thus briefly recorded by the correspondent of the Wairau Record, from whose columns we have extracted the particulars of the first, the Press not having come to hand ; the last steamer being from Blenheim, and not conveying a Picton mail:—

Eight boats were entered for the first race, sailing match, and six started. The Argyle went down stern foremost witli four men in her, one of whom named M’Dougall was drowned. After this second melancholy event it was decided that no more sailing matches should take place.

The late Fatal Accident at the Regatta. The boat known as the Greenwich, which was capsized on the first morning of the regatta day, has been drawn ashore, and now lies high and dry upon the beach. The body of the unfortunate man who went down in her as not yet been pick ed up, although several men engaged by the Government have been dragging for the corpse for several days. On Monday, the hat belonging to the deceased came up by one of the drags, and it is confidently expected that in the course of today or to morrow the body will be recovered, unless, as is feared, it has drifted too far down the Sound. Attempts have been paid to recover the cutter Argyle, which went down in very deep water, but hitherto without success. It is a melancholy circumstance to record that M’Dougal, who sunk with the boat, was the builder of ?t. The Argyle had only been launched a very few days, and anxious to test the qualities of a work of ins own hands, he expressed a wish to be one of the crew in the sailing match for which she was entered, which request was readily complied with. M’Dougal, man,” said a friend and a countryman, “ tak’ gude care ye dina make your ain handiwork your ain coffin, for the morn looks unco murk.” “ Na fears,” was the answer, and M’Dougal was never seen more by his shore friends. The wind blew in terrific squalls, and the captain of the boat ordered the mainsail to be lowered down and reefed. While in the act of doing this, down upon the boat swept another heavy squall, stronger than had yet passed over the waters of the Sound that morning. “O, God, fake care!” was an exclamation which escaped the lips of one of the men, and the next instant the boat went down by the stern into many a fathom deep of the water, poor M’Dougal going with it, while the others rose to the surface. The rest has already been told, and it is not likely the body will ever bo recovered. M’Dougal had too truly built his “ ain coffin.”