BOY DROWNED IN HARBOUR

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 661, 13 May 1929, Page 1

BOY DROWNED IN HARBOUR

Canoe Swept Into Rough Water COMPANION’S PLUCKY EFFORT TRAGEDY ended a harbour trip in a canvas canoe yesterday afternoon when a lad was drowned after a" bitter struggle in icy water-. An older boy, after vain attempts to help his companion, managed to reach the shore. The victim was:— JACK WINGRAVE, aged 15, son of Mr. and Mrs. P. Wingrave, 184 Jervois Road, Ponsonby. His plucky companion was Charles Fletcher, aged 18, whose home is 46 Sarsfield Street, Herne Bay.

Early yesterday afternoon the two boys set out in a canvas canoe from the beach at the foot of Sentinel Road, Ponsonby. A small mainsail and jib were set. and they intended to cruise up and down near the shore. However, after they had gone some distance it was found that the blustering breeze and ebb tide was carrying them across the harbour and out into rougher water. The canoe began to ship water and its young occupants became wet and chilled. As the shore receded it became intreasingly difficult to keep the frail craft afloat. It was buffeted severely in the choppy sea, and efforts to steer

struggle. He climbed the cliffs and made his way to the nearest house—that of Mr. J. C. Yeomans, manager of the Chelsea Sugar Works. The city police were informed immediately, and Mr. Yeomans and Fletcher took a boat belonging to the Sugar Company and patrolled the waterfront. When he had reached as far as the Onetangi Wharf they had to abandon the boat because it was impossible to pull it back against the choppy sea. In the meantime the police had instructed the wharf headquarters, and Constables Chalcraft and Toovey sped to the scene in the Harbour Board

it back to the city side of the Waitemata were unavailing. By this time the canoe was almost waterlogged, and was drifting slowly across the harbour. When about 400yds from Kauri Point the sails were caught by a heavy gust of wind, the canoe was overturned, and the boys were thrown into the water. No other boats were in the vicinity, and the wind against the tide was causing a very choppy sea. Fighting against the bitter cold of the water, Fletcher managed to support his companion for a time. Then he decided that the only thing left was for them both to swim toward the ahore, 400yds away. Fieteher helped Wingrave to undrees partially, and when his heavier clothing had been removed, Wingrave set out for the shore. He was assisted by Fletcher, but soon became exhausted, and the older boy helped him back to the canoe. Leaving Wingrave cliliging to the tanoe. Fletcher swam to the shore, reaching Kauri Point after a hard

launch Jumbo. An extensive search was made near the spot where the accident happened, but Wingrave and the canoe had disappeared. Later the canoe was seen drifting off the Birkenhead Wharf by Mr. T. Lynch, captain of the ferry Albatross. It was recovered and pulled up on the bank of Hinemoa Park by Messrs. F. Dickson and Fitzpatrick. The little craft had been completely swamped. The sails were still set, but the gear was tangled and the rudder was missing. The rudder was picked up later by Mr. S. Segeden, mate in the employ of the Ferry Company. Throughout yesterday afternoon and last evening the search for Win: grave’s body continued, and dragging operations were carried out without success. Wingrave, who was employed as a cadet in the advertising department of The Sun, was a smart and promising boy, well-liked by his companions. He was a member of the Bayfield School Soccer team which won the knock-out championship in 1928.