YACHT DISASTER.

Hokitika Guardian, 3 April 1923, Page 3

YACHT DISASTER.

SEVERAL MEN DROWNED. [nv TKPEGrapii—n:n muiss association.] AUCKLAND. April 3. The less of five lives was involved in a fatality, which occurred on Tnituo Bar some twenty miles trom Mercury Bay about nine o'clock on Saturday evening. A. resident of Taittta fell overboard from the launch IClida v hde crossing the bar and in an unsuccessful attempt to rescue the unfortunate man, the Auckland-owned launch Lorraine capsized and tour ot the occupant were til-o dtowned. The names of the victims are W • 8. ■Southernwood i f Newton Lb-ad. Auckland. owner of the I.■ rraine. 11. Chappell of Valley ltd-. Ml. Eden. T. Culh.me of H"! >.'to. .'street, Auckland. N. Robson of Arthur St. Pensonby. Abel Roslandsoti. The latter was h»t overboard from the launch Elida. Three other ocupants of the Lorraine who were saved were W. Walsh of John Street. P»ufionby. T. Jenkins of Auckland, and Til'kon. Cory. Wright. of Tairau. The occupants ol the Elida besides Rolatulson were Harold and ( yril Co,y. Wright and Viera, nil of Tattrtiu. A SURVIVOR’S ACCOUNT. AUCKLAND, April 3. A thrilling story in connection with the launch Duality at iairua hat on Snittrdav evening was told by r l . Jenkin-, the first of three survivors of the crew of the launch Lorraine to reach Auckland. With T. Cony Wright and \Y. Walsh, both of Auckland. Jenkins was rescued by the launch Elida, when the Lorraine cap-hied. Jenkins wits rather severely knocked about the head and face by the wreckage ol the capsized launch and spent over an hour in the water before being picked up. His appearance last evening tta- that <" ■' matt who had passed through a fearful strain, hut he gave a vivid m count of the tragic episode, giving whole-heart-ed praise to three, Casey and Wright brothers, to whose tireless ami devotee clforts throughout the terrible u.ght the survivors owed the.'.' lives. There \>a, a terrific sea on the bat that night, said Jenkins, and the tide was running out and the wind "as driving the breakers in, so that the waves crashed together on the bat. T. Curry Wrigl.t was sleeting the Lorraine and Roitaldson tea- in 'he engine room. Chappell and I were reading in the cabin. A huge breaket Maidenly struck u- broad-.ale on and capsized us. \Yc were then ah;,at three chains from the shore. Chappell and I rushed out into the cockpit which "as lull of water, liie dinghy had been swept a wav- Kiilla.m- v.as struggling in the water. \Yal-h ami I t to get to the dinghy, when Walsh got hiled tangled in a fishing line, Robson soici <i rope :uol v. as iln or. in;_»; it. lo Kulhane when 1 saw a terrific breaker curling' right on top, ol us. H crashed down and then came anotliei . L thing us all out into the surf, and pounded the launch to matchwood. We never saw anything more of .Southanw'out! who was in the engine room, Robson or Kulhane. I wabeaten down again ami again oml battered with the wreckage, Ltil managed to keep my senses and prc.ui'ly tound myself hanging to a piet wreckage. being washed over if- and out to ea at o great rate. I saw Carry V, right get bold ol a benzine tin. and swimming with it to Walsh. Alter I got over the bar I (Rifted to sea with the ■ tli'lent for about tut hour. Then I beard someone shouting from the ;-i',ore. I shouted

hack and present It the Elida tame up behind and threw a rope to me. I wa - pretty well all in «hen t hey got ute aboard, bill told them that Cony Wright and Walsh were .somewhere ahead. About an hour later wo sight' d them still hanging to the m-nziuc tin. Thov must have drifted in or six miles. Walsh was nearly done ior, and but lor Corrv Wright would doubt!e-- have ’os'. j,is life. The latter managed to clear Walsh’s feel of the fishing line and helped him keep ai'oat. Y\ e threw a life belt, a hit'll lorry Wright pulled over Walsh's shoulder- and kept him tip till we could draw them both in. I hey were both in a pretty had way and wo had to rub them for nearly a.t hour to bring them round. Al t ivl. vXD. April 3. Jenkins continued that the Elida cruised about until one o'clock, looking for ti'.e others but without success. Thin we headed for Slipper Island about -even miles from Tairau. V hen we reached it we found the breakers were too heavy for the launch to land u-. so Cony Wright swam ashore, got a dingy and brought ;t hack to its. Corrv Wright am! I made our way hull a mile or so inland to a farm house ol two Scotsmen brothers, whose kindness some of it- "ill never forget. One ol them got a hot meal ant! beds ready and the other went down l" the shore with dry clothing and helped Carry Wright and Walsh to lhe house. We went to bed about four o'clock.

From what -Jenkius wu« told by the skipper of the Elida and his brother it appears that Alex I’onald.son was standing talking to Harold Corrv Wright who was steeling, when a heavy sea .struck the launch, washing her dinghy away. Ronaldsott immediately went after it and was doubtless trying iu recover the dinghy when another big sea broke aboard the launch ami washed hint overboard, tints precipitating a five foil 1 tragedy.