FIVE LIVES LOST.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2563, 5 April 1923, Page 3

FIVE LIVES LOST.

TAIRUA BOATING FATALITY. RESCUE LAUNCH CAPSIZES ON BAR. THREE OTHERS SAVED. Auckland, April 3. The loss of five lives was involved in a fatality which occurred on the Tairua bar, some 20 miles from Mercury Bay, about 9 o’clock on Saturday evening. A resident of Tairua fell overboard from the launch Elida while crossing the bar and in unsuccessful attempts to rescue the unfortunate man, the Auckland-ow-ned Lorraine capsized and four of its occupants were also drowned. The names of the victims are.— W. S. Southwood, of Newton Rd., Auckland, owner of the Lorraine; H. Chappell, of Valley Rond, Mt. Eden; T. Culhane, of Hopetoun St., Auckland; N. Hobson, of Arthur St., Ponsonby, Auckland; and Axel Rolandson, of Tairua, who was lost overboard from the launch Elida. The three other occupants from the launch Lorraine, who were saved, were W. Walsh, of John St., Auckland, T. Jenkins, of Auckland, and Tilston Cory Wright of Tairua. The occupants of the launch Elida, besides the deceased Rolandson, were Harold and Cyril Wright and Viera, all of Tairua. NOT-TO-BE-FORGOTTEN ADVENTURE. A DRIFT FOR HOURS IN TERRIFIC SEA. Auckland, April 3. A thrilling story in connection with the launch fatality at Tairua Bay on Saturday evening is told by Mr T. Jenkins, the first of the-three survivors of the crew of the launch Lorraine to reach Auckland. With Mr T. Cory Wright and Mr W. Walsh, both of Auckland, Mr Jenkins was rescued by the launch Elida. When the Lorraine capsized he himself was rather severely knocked about the head and face by the wreckage of the capsized launch. Tie spent over an hour in the water before being picked up. His appearance last evening was that of a man who had passed through a fearful strain, but he told a vivid account of the tragic episode, giving whole-hearted praise to the three Cory Wright brothers, 1o whose tireiess and devoted efforts thro-

ughout the terrible night the survivors owe their lives. “There was a terriffic sea on the bar that night,” said Mr Jenkins, “Hie tide was running out and the wind driving the breakers in so that the waves crashed together on the bar. Mr T. Cory Wright was steering the Lorraine, Mr Robson was in the engine room, and Mr Chappell and I were reading in the cabin. A huge breaker suddenly struck ns broadside on and capsized us. We were then about three chains from the shore. Chappell and 1 rushed out into Iho cockpit, which was full of water. Culhane was struggling in the water. Walsh and I tried to get the dingy when Walsh got his feet tangled in a fishing line. “Robson seized a rope and was tin-owing it to Culhane, when 1 saw a terrific breaker curling right on top of us. II crashed down, washing us all out into the surf and pounding flic launch to matchwood. “I never saw anything more of Southernwood, who was in the engine room, Robson or Culhane, I was beaten down again and again and battered with the wreckage, but managed to keep my senses. Presently I found myself hanging to a piece of wreckage and being washed over the bar out to sea at a great rate.

“I saw Cory Wright get hold of a benzine tin, and swimming with it to Walsh. After I got over the bar 1 drifted to sea with the current for about, an hour. Then I heard someone shouting from the -shore. T shouted hack, and presently tlie Elida came up and threw me a rope. After we capsized they had turned back. I was pretty well all in when they got me aboard, hut I told them that Corv Wright and Walsh were somewhere ahead.

“About an hour later we sighted them still clinging to the benzine tin. They must have drifted over six miles. Walsh was nearly done for, and but for Cory Wright he would doubtless have lost, his life. The latter managed to clear Walsh’s feet of the fishing line and helped him to keep alloat;- We threw a lifebelt, which Cory Wright pulled over Walsh’S shoulders and kept him up till we could draw them both in. They were both in a pretty bad way. ■Then we had to rub them for nearly an hour to bring them round.”