BOATING FATALITY.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 457, 26 March 1890, Page 5

BOATING FATALITY.

A SAD AFFAIR. ADDITIONAL PARTICULARS. STATEMENT BY A SURVIVOR. ;' ■ i i'. • h• - ——— t The sad fatality chronicled in yesterday’s issue of , .the Star was, writes our correspondent, .not known save to. a few in Onehunga until the arrival of the Evening Star, information of the casualty Having been wired, to this office immediately on the arrival at Onehunga of the survivors. The effect of the sad news was intense. Very few could,for sometime realise the facts, some even disbelieving the report ; but those acquainted with the locale, of the Huia, feared the worst. Captain Daniells vras well known and highly esteemed, and his bereaved family have the sympathy of all in their severe trial. Onehunga to-day appeared in mourning, the vessels in port flying their flags “half mast,” while the shops in town werej partially closed, out of respect to the memory of deceased. PARTICULARS OF THE CASUALTY. Some f additional particulars of the casualty are supplied to Inspector Broham by Sergeant Greene, of Onehunga, as followsAt 2.30 p.m. yesterday, Mr Henry Tidmarch, who bad ridden from the Huia to Onehunga, reported that Captain Daniells' sailing boat, when off Pupunga Point (about four miles from Manukau Heads), got struck by a squall, and sank at once,Captain E. Daniells being drowned, as well as Miss Agnes Lyell, aged 14 years, and Miss Laura Cowpor, of Hamilton, Waikato, who had been on a visit to some friends in Onehunga. Two youths, named Edward Lyell, 16 years old, and Michael Dempsey, 13 years old, who were also in the boat, succeeded in swimming to the shore, about 300 yards distant. They proceeded to the Huia and gave information to Mr Tidmarsh and Mr John Mclnnes, who having obtained the use of a boat, proceeded to the scene of the accident with all possible baste. He remained there for some time pulling about, but nothing could be seen of the boat or those who sank with her. Mr Tidmarsh then came overland on horseback, in company with the two boys Lyell and Dempsey. HOW THE ACCIDENT HAPPENEDCaptain Daniells, whose wife and family reside at Onehunga, went down the harbour about 8 a.m. yesterday morning in an open sailing boat owned by himself, for the purpose of fishing, accompanied by the two young ladies and two lads previously named. The boat had been near the Heads and was returning homeward when the accident occurred. STATEMENT BY SURVIVORS. From statements by the survivors Dempsey and Lyell it appears that Captain Daniells had taken the party out for a days fishing in an open sailing boat. They left Onehunga Wharf about 8 a.m., when there was a strong N.E. breeze blowing. This speedily took the boat to Pupunga Point, where Captain Daniells decided to try his luck at fishing, and anchor was dropped there. The weather at first was fairly good, but soon made a change for the worse, and the wind having increased, the boat began to drag anchor. Captain Daniells therefore decided tosailinto the bay near Kakamatua, and succeeded in doing so. A good anchorage was found here, and nothing eventful occurred until late in the afternoon. The party had dinner on the boat at 3 p.m., and weighed anchor, with the view of returning to Onehunga about half an hour later. The weather being very unreliable, Captain Daniells, evidently having some indication of the risk he was running, took the precaution to remove his sea-boots shortly after the homeward journey had been begun. He put on a pair of slippers instead of the sea-boots, remarking that if anything happened he would be lighter for the charge. At this time the wind was blowing off the land very treacherously, the sails at times flapping for want of a breeze, but there appeared to be no immediate danger. THE CASUALTY. A sudden squall which came off the land Btruck the- main sheet, which was made fast to a cleat, and the boat going over on her beam ends, took in a quantity of water. She speedily righted, however, and an effort was made to loosen the dingy which was astern, but before this could be done the boat settled down in the water, leaving her five occupants in the water. The two lads got hold of an oar that floated. Miss Cowper, who caught hold of the masthead, was drawn under with the boat and never rose again. The boys tried to assist Miss Lyell, whowaswithoutsupport, butshedrew them both underwater, and they had to let her go. They then gave her hold of the oar, and tried to assist hpr to the shore, but she became exhausted and sank- The boys state that about the same time they saw Captain Daniells clinging to another oar and going round and round until he suddenly threw up his arms and sank. Dempsey then succeeded ip getting out of his coat, and he and Lyell succeeded in reaching the shore in a very exhausted condition. CAPTAIN DANIELLS was well-known and highly respected by all who knew him, more especially amongst master mariners. He was a native of Aberdeen and-caipe toNevv Zealand in 1867, as chief officer of the ship County of Kintore, and since that time he has been in charge of many of the coastal steamers. Captain Daniells, who was in his 55th year, leaves a widow, four grown-up daughters and one son to mourn his untimely decease. MISS COWPER. Miss Cowper was until recently a resident of Hamilton, being a daughter of Mr Cowper, late editor of the “ Waikato Times ” and now editor of the_ “ Thames Advertiser.” She was on a visit to Onehunga and had been staying with Mrs Lyell, of that place. MISS LYELL. Miss Agnes Lyell was a young lady, 14 years of age, whose parents reside at Onehunga, and a sister of Edward Lyell, one of those saved from the casualty. Miss Lyell was a pupil at the Convent School, and had on many occasions distinguished herself at that institution. 1 ‘ Mrs Lyell lost her husband some short time ago, and now this double bereavement is a terrible blow to her. Miss Lyell seems to have bejen a general favourite, as very deep regret is expressed by all ’who knew her ’' :f ' " ‘■ i -* A SEARCH I*ARTY. Our Onehungacorrespondent writes : “ A search, party-that left Onehunga on receipt of the news for' the Huia, have not as yet returned-, and may not do so for some time. A second search party includes Constable Hasletb and' Messrs Brown, . Clark, and Fletcher; and ! a ; third £arty, Messrs Siedars, ’ Spiers, and the- boy Lyell.It is feared the bodies may have been carried out to sea,'bht if hot, they may of bourse be cast ÜBhore, 5 at 1 very different

localities, or even opposite to the place where the sad accident occurred, and unless the settlers far,around the Huia are made acquainted with the accident, some considerable time may elapse before the bodies are found. “ Auckland Star, ■’March 22.