TWO DEATHS AT SEA

Hokitika Guardian, 19 June 1929, Page 2

TWO DEATHS AT SEA

FATAL ACCIDENT ON AORANGI. AUCKLAND, June 17. Two deaths, a man overboard in shark-infested waters, and late running made the voyage of the Aorangi from Vancouver to Auckland one that is out of the ordinary in the transpacific service. Held back for twenty-four hours to receive English mails the Aorangi was only two days out of Vancouver when (Frank Gilmour, a member of the Young Australia League, died of kidney disease. He was ill for only three days. He was buried at sea. A fatal accident occurred on June 8, three days after the resumption of the voyage from Honolulu. Through falling down a companion-way Thomas Quinsay, a pantryman, sustained a fracture of the skull and died within fifteen minutes. No one saw the accident and it is presumed from the extent of his injuries that Quinsay tripped at the top of the companionway and fell head-long to the concrete deck below. He was buried at sea. A thrill was provided when t]ie vessel was passing through the reef at Suva on her way to Auckland. When sitting on ;the rail, Hans Huber, a second-class passenger for Sydney, fell overboard. Sharks had been seen in the vicinity a few minutes before, but Huber managed to reach the reef where he sat until rescued by a launch from the shore.