BOAT ACCIDENT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4593, 9 December 1875, Page 2

BOAT ACCIDENT.

Yesterday the town was thrown into a state of consternation, owing to the report of a boat containing the relations of some old (townspeople not having returned from an aquatic excursion to the races. Towards midday the feelings of their friends were quite painful. Captain Haliday did all in his power to relieve their feelings, having telegraphed to the Heads to Pilot Holmes to keep a good look out. Although such ■was done, nothing became of it. However, during the day, a number of the friends of the missing people waited on Messrs. Turnbull and Co. and stated their case, and requested them to send out one of their steamers. At one o’clock steam was up on the Napier, when a start was made for Somes Island. There were on board some twenty people connected with the missing people. As the Napier got under the lee of Somes Island some half-dozen were seen coming from the keeper’s house and the ensign hoisted. As soon as this was noticed on board the Napier the signal was returned and three cheers duly given. Captain Butt immediately got close to the Island and dropped anchor. A boat was then sent ashore. A very high sea was running, but a good landing was made, and after a smart struggle up a precipitous hill the missing folks were

found. Congratulations were passed, and a return was made for the boat. On reaching the steamer three cheers were given. It was considered prudent that the return be made round Ward Island, in case some other unfortunates might have had the misfortune to be driven ashore there, hut such, we are happy to say, was not the case—a good look-out having been kept. At this time, the wind was blowing a gale, with terrific squalls. On reaching the wharf there was quite a lar"e crowd to meet and congratulate the truants on their return. . Messrs. Isherwood and Phillips stated; There were five of us in the boat. We started' from Brown’s wharf, the boat being close hauled with canvas doublereefed. We made for the Hutt, but when about half-a-mile off Somes Island, a sudden puff of wind came and broke the mast into three pieces, although we-took the precaution of letting go the sheet and throwing the boat into the wind. We hoisted the jib on the stump of the mast and ran to the leeward of Somes Island, then pulled in to the lighthouse. Here we repaired damages, rigging a mast by splicing the pieces of the old one. In half-an-hour we again started, but before we got more than a couple of hundred yards away the mast again broke straight off. We pulled back to the island' and again fixed the mast, but as the wind now increased into a heavy gale we were unable to get away. Pulled the boat out of the water and went up to the lighthouse-keepers. The superintendent of the immigration station and the lighthousekeepers were very kind and gave us such accommodation as they could, and to them we feel deeply thankful The gale continued all night, and next morning we were still unable to get away, and had to stay till the Napier came down. We desire to also thank Messrs. Turnbull and Co. for sending’ the steamer to our assistance. We can quite believe the sincerity of thanks accorded to Messrs. Turnbull by tbe above adventurers ; in fact, thanks are due to all who interested-themselves so willingly in the discovery of the men. Another incident of the late gale has yet to be mentioned, about which, unfortunately, there still remains a good deal of mystery. A man, a late arrival by the Haloione, was picked up near Hunter’s wharf in a state of insensibility, and was taken to the New Zealander Hotel, where all the information he could give respecting himself was that he had been out in a boat from the schooner Canterbury with two other men, but did not recollect how he came to be in the position in which he was found. From this it is to be inferred that the unfortunate man, and in all probability his companions likewise, were drunk at the time of the boat accident. Of his companions, who are still missing, he knew nothing, and great fears are entertained that they have met their death by drowning. After supplying this meagre information, the man appeared to be suffering severely, and was taken to the Hospital, where he soon became quite delirious, and remained so for some time;, but there was a slight improvement in his condition by last advices from the Hospital yesterday evening. It appears that a man is missing from the Falcon, and it is thought that he might have been one of the three seen, to depart in the Canterbury’s boat. That there were three in the boat there is evidence, a person having seen three men start, one of them having a hat on and the others noneThere is little room to hope that these missing men will be discovered alive.