LAUNCH TRAGEDY

Hokitika Guardian, 2 October 1930, Page 6

LAUNCH TRAGEDY

FURTHER PARTICULARS. SURVIVOR’S COLLAPSE. 'By Telegraph—Per Press Association WELLINGTON, October-1. Hpdgmah; the surviv'd- of the launch tragedy, - collapsed this morning. -He was then taken -to the hospital, where lie is making a recovery. A search was continued all day without avail for the three men who disappeared when the launch capsized in the waves.

DETAILS OF THE VICTIMS. ~ The details of the '.lost men sire; as follows: —

Joseph Heberley, aged 23 years, single, skipper of the launch; son of Mr and Mrs Arthur Hebeley, of Oyster Bay, Tory Channel. James Perano, single, aged 26 years; son of William Perano, of Picton.

Magnus Hunter, single, aged 22 years. He originally came with .bis brothers from the Shetland Isles, where his father now lives. The only survivor is Arthur Hodgman, aged 18 years, whose home is at Kaikoura. He is suffering from shock and the effects of swallowing a large quantity of sea water; Magnus Hunter 1 was • one of twin brothers, the other .being a carpenter. His brother, John Hunter, lives at Paremata. He was a member of the crew of the. Nonna,-which was wrecked off Wellington Heads about three years ago. Both of Hunter’s bothers were on the beach following the capsizing of a launch, and were,- therefor, some., hours in 'the hope that their■ brothel would: be saved. i;

Magnusr Hunter was the only one of the four on the launch who could not swim, and,/according to the story • t the survivor, Hodgson, Heberley might have saved his own life by swimming to the ? rocks, had he not taken hold of Hunter in an endeavour to bring him through the surf to the rocks. Every one of the Scottish fisher folk at Island Bay went out to the scene of the disaster to give -all the help they could, and they took great risks in their endeavours to save the men oil board the launch. Several of them roped themselves together, with Pckw Isbister at the head of the line, and just behind him John Tait. They caught a glimpse of the launch just aa tremendous comber caught it broad side of and capsized it. a few seconds they could see . Hodgman clinging to tlie gunwale, while the other three were on the outer side They were flung off,the launch, which was then caught in another huge avalanche of water, and smashed with terrific force on to the rocks. “It was smashed to smithereens,” said Peter Isbister. “I then caugiK sight of Hodgman, who was lying on a rock a few yards away. T manage 1 to swim across and got hold of him by the shoulder. Ho was exhausted and barely conscious. I caught hold of him by the shoulder and said: ‘You’re safe now, old man I’ He eplied ‘Thank God!’ and collapsed. We were then pulled back by the oth- " men on the rope.”