SUPPOSED CAPSIZING OF A FISHING BOAT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5142, 15 September 1877, Page 2

SUPPOSED CAPSIZING OF A FISHING BOAT.

LOSS OP THE CREW. On Thursday evening the fishing boat Saucy Lass put in to the site of the old pilot station at the Heads, as she was unable to beat up the entrance of the harbor owing to the fierce N.W. gale blowing. The crew, who walked into town, conveyed the painful intelligence that in all probability the boat Blue Bell,, which had been in company with them in the Strait, had capsized, and that the three men who formed her crew were drowned. From what can be gathered.it appears that the Saucy Lass and the Blue Bell left Port Underwood, where they had been fishing for a few days, for this port, on Thursday last. They had a strong westerly breeze across the Strait till sighting the land on this side, and then the wind freshened up to a strong gale from the N.W. The boats were then about eight miles off the Heads, the Saucy Lass leading by a mile or so. There was a very dangerous sea running, and those in the Saucy Lass had to use the greatest judgment to keep her from swamping or capsizing. At about dusk the Blue Bell, which had been in sight all the day, suddenly disappeared, and it is the opinion of those who were in the Saucy Lass that the former had capsized ; but they were unable to go to the spot where she was last seen, as they themselves at that time were in a very critical condition, most of the sails having been blown away and the boat otherwise disabled. As soon as the old pilot station was reached the men were obliged to put their boat on shore and walk into town, where they reported the circumstances as above stated. The Blue Bell was only a small boat of about four tons, and had three men on board, whose names were as follows :—Jeremiah Hay, an Englishman, aged about 34; Georgio Domenic, Italian, aged 35; and Charles Amile, a Frenchman, aged 24.