FATAL BOAT ACCIDENT.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 6, Issue 334, 21 December 1865, Page 2

FATAL BOAT ACCIDENT.

THEEE MEN OP THE 70th EEGIMENT DEOWNED ! It is with feelings of regret that we have to record the occurence of an accident of a very painful nature that happened m the outer harbor on Monday last, ISth instant, and which, we are sorry to add. terminated fatally. The facts connected with this sad affair are brief, and, as nearly as we have been able to ascertain, as follows: in tho roa dstead about noon on Smt ani 18 Vh h With a detachment of the 12th Eegiment, and vnth orders to embark those men of the The wcatw m th h t e ? Sk ’ man -° f - wa r. could not find room. The weather that day was very rough—the Bay being anpnir.t 6^ l6l ' W ,? it £ s notwithstanding which, however, an by s ® veral boats from Shore (engaged for the purpose) to reach the Eclipse, in order to proceed with the landing of the soldiers, but, owing to the increas. danrn of ° bli |l ed 1° put baok - Therefore, at the first" town of day on Monday morning, the disembarkation of «SIt en( ; e i d ’ and by six °’ elock they had all been . safety—the sea at the time being comparatively smooth;—and the men marched to the barracks, preceded hy their own drum and fife band. However, shortly after a breeze sprang up, and before ten o’clock (at which hour the embarkation of tbe 70th began) it was'blowing a stiff r’ lt i\ be ?: vy sea se tting in. It was about eleven o clock when the boat which contained the unfortunate men who were drowned put off from shore—the numerous spectators, both military and civilian, who Uned’the beach, shaking hands with the poor fellows, wishing them a pros.and heart-felt hopes that they would reach their dear native land in safety—hopes alas. never to he realised, as regards three at any rate of Esk—S!i aat bellows who embarked on board the she5 he boat was named. She had been gone from shore hut a brief period, ere—horrible to relate—a piercin°shnak attracted our attention, and the cry was raised “ A b °“ s^ a " 1 P ed 1 ’ “ Sll a is sinking! ” In an instant the sad T er !i he s P lt ~ ever y available boat was launched, manned, and off, as hard as strong and wilhn a arms could row them, to the rescue of the unfor“c“ w . h ° wer <? struggling in the water—some of whom ever and anon disappeared from view. The “ Alarm ’’ was sounded by a bugler on board of another boat which was proceeding to the Eclipse, also heavily laden with homeward-hound soldiers; and, ere many seconds elapsed m response to the shrill notes of the bugle??he SK bm^ S diu° a nv Pr ?uf led by sis P° werful Jack Tars, came b °““ d l n S° er the surging waves, and soon succeeded in snatching several poor fellows from a watery grave There The VmdCa„°d tb l pilot boat ’ the ho^ the vivid s, and the brigantine EcUpse’s—which were all r*™S y ou the s P ot - When all was done that human aid could do, and when the muster roll was called three men were missing-Color-sergeant Fahey, Sergt EMtwTOd. and Corporal Warrington,— all men, we believe, of good character, and well liked by both officers and men. We can sav of : tbei r bodies haTe not been lound up to the hour effn^T^o 01118 l r? ? ress ’ though, we understand, every effort was made to recover them. As regards the cause of the accident about which there are various conflictnhr^[™7 iU s , ay nothing at present. Of course when the babes are found—if ever they are—an inquest will ?® be d ’ after the result of which is made known we may oblervaUon a em&r 10 make ' bUt ’ tiU tben * we reserve ou * M e omitted to mention that there were two of a boat*** Rwimipli addition to the soldiers" boat was swamped—making a total of twenty-one souls. The s.s. St. Kilda.—We perceive from a late Wellington paper that it is the intention of the General Government to dispose of this steamer as soon as possible.