Launch Fatality.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 March 1922, Page 1

Launch Fatality.

TWO WELL-KNOWN AUCKLANDERS DROWNED.

AUCKLAND, Feb. 26

A drowning fatality oecurerd on Saturday night, the victims being two well-known Auckland residents—Keith Naylor Laurie, 30, of Ponsonby, and bis brother-in-law. Charles Knox Russell, 31, of Momingside. After a launch trip, Laurie and Russell and party anchored the craft 70 yards from OBuckland’s beach, off tin mouth of the Tamaki river. Four men, including Laurie and Russell started for shore in the dinghy which capsized 50 yards from land. One man swam ashore, and another was washed ashore, clinging to the dinghy. Laurie and Russell were swept out to sea by the current. Attempts at rescue were fruitless. The fatality was witnessed by the deceased’s wives.

FURTHER DETAILS. AUCKLAND. Feb. 27. Further details of the drowning fatality at the month of the Tamaki river show that the victims—Keith Naylor r auric and Charles Knox Russell—bad been living at the beach with FT. TTayr . jnnr., Albert Jerome, and Phil. Brown, and all the members of the party had their wives with them. The five men | had been for a trip in the launch Witri. On returning they anchored about seventy yards from the beach. TTayr remained on the la-ifticb ns ’there was not enough room in the dinghy. The other four started for the shore, one sculling with an oar. About fifty yards from the bench, the dinghy capsized. Brown who could not swim clung to the upturned boat, and the other three struck out for the shore. Jerrome, oall- : ing over bis shoulder, asked if Laurie was safe, and he received a reassuring ' answer. Tin's was the last he saw of the two deceased, who were swept towards the mouth of the river bv a strong ebb tide, which also carried the dinghy and Brown to the sea. The wives of the men on shore called for help and gave the alarm, aaid dinghies were soon put out to render assistance. Jerrome was caught in the current and carried t,o a reef, where lie held on until rescued. George Rinsed, a brother of one of the deceased,’swam to the launch and attempted to start the engine, hut the latter broke down. The rescue boats gained mid-stream, but there was no trace of Laurie or of Russell, though the search was continued through the night. The dinghy to which Brown was clinging was carried into the shallow water, and the women waded out and secured him, allowing the boat to drift away, i Mr Russell was a brother-in-law of Laurie and Mrs Laurie has lost both her husband and her brother.