TRAGEDY ABOARD

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 691, 17 June 1929, Page 1

TRAGEDY ABOARD

AORANGI HAS “HOODOO” VOYAGE TWO DEATHS: MAN OVERBOARD Tragedy seems to have stalked the R.M.M.S. Aorangi on her voyage from Vancouver. The vessel arrived at Auckland noon today after one of the most sot* rowful voyages she has known. rj'WO people died on the boat, and one passenger jumped overboard. There were two passengers in the ship’s hospital when she reached Auckland, but neither was seriously iU. The Aorangi, usually so punctual ill her arrival at Auckland, was almost a day late. This was due to a delay of 24 hours at Vancouver, where the vessel waited for the mails. Two days out from Vancouver one of the boys with the Young Australia League died of Bright’s disease. Ha was Frank Gilmour, of Melbourne. The burial took place at sea. The next tragedy occurred when a pantryman, Thomas Quinsey, felt down a companionway and fractured his skull. His head was terribly injured, and he died within 15 minutes, S though everying was done in an effort ' to save his life.

As the Aorangi was passing through, the reef after leaving Suva, Fiji, Hang Huber. a second-class passenger, jumped overboard into the harbour.

The vessel was stopped and boats were lowered immediately. Huber kept afloat, but apparently did not wish to be saved. However, the crew of ona boat reached him in time, and after about an hour and a-half in the water he was rescued. Huber was inclined to be violent and was placed in confinement for the rest of the voyage. He is bound for Australia.

But for the quick action on the part of the ship’s officers he would have been drowned.