The Boating’ Fatality.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 8, Issue 29, 9 April 1907, Page 5

The Boating’ Fatality.

THE SURVIVOR'S STORY, A GHASTLY EXPERIENCE. , Auckland, April 6. Pilkington, senior, interviewed by a reporter, staled that the crew of the patiki included himself ( i man of 43 years), Fred ITkington (aged 17) Harry Pilkington (19), Lionel Skinner (19), ami W. McAneny (iS). niey_ left Auckland at 10.30 on Monday morning to cruise round Motutapn and back. Pilkington, senr., was at the tiller idl they had passed Moluhpu, Between Ihe Island and Rakino, being tired, he gave the tiller to Lionel Skinner. About noon he proceeded to g.u lunch ready, About five minutes later a puli' of wind caught the small craft. Pilkington, scnV,, let the sheet go and the patiki rocked a few times and then went gunwale under, McAneny, who was a good swimmer, struck out for the shore, which was 250 yards away, Pilkington, seme, heard him shout, but saw nothing morcol him. He was undoubtedly drowned, as the wafer was infested with sharks, otherwise news of him reaching the shore must have been received before this. Pilkinglon, senr., Skinner, and Fred and Harry Pilkington stuck to the boat, which was full of wafer, Harry Pilkington being a weak lad, the father had to assist him to retain his hold of the gunwale. Now and again fhc boat would turn right over, and the unfortunate four had to gel a fresh hold, Luring the afternoon Lionel Skinner said it was no use hanging cm any longer, and the next time the boat turned over he disappeared. During the same afternoon Fred Pilkington also disappeared, his body being found under the decks of the boat next morning, Pilkington, senr., he'd on to his son Harry until 5 p.m. The buffotting of the sea had rendered the boy unconscious, and ho died. The survivor kept the bodies in the boat until Tuesday night, and then threw (hem overboard. He managed to get the mast unstopped and the boat floated about half a yard out of wafer on one side. He was able to keep his seat in her, and thus he drilled past Motulii, On Wednesday at daybreak he was ten miles outside Tirithi, Pie was then seen from the scow Era, which took him aboard and brought him to town, The survivor is suffering a good deal from exposure. Pilkington added: "There were four shaiks constantly round the boat, and after Lionel Skinner's body was gone they seemed to know th it 1 was hanging on for life. I don’t know whether they were attracted by the dead bodies in the boat or not, A small one came quite close to the boat, but three very large ones kept about twenty feet away, I could see them quite plainly swimming around the boat, and sometimes their big black fins would be showing, I kept the bodies of my sons Harry and bred on board until Tuesday night, and then pul them overboard.’ 1