LOST AT SEA.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 472, 17 May 1890, Page 5

LOST AT SEA.

FATALITY ON THE ELINOR VERNON. THE BOATSWAIN DROWNED. Captain J. Berry, master of the wellknown American barquentine Elinor Vernon, which arrived in port here from New York, via Wellington, about midnight last night, reports a melancholy accident which occurred on the voyage up the coast from Wellington, resulting in the drowning of the ship’s boatswain. The fatality occurred about four o’clock in the morning of the 12th insb., Monday last, shortly after the East Cape was rounded. The wind was coming fresh from the south with a rough sea, and the mate sent a man aloft to furl the topgallant-sail, and another, the boatswain, a German named Charles Pahl, out on the jibboom to take in the flying-jib. The sailor who went aloft returned after performing his duties, but the boatswain did not appear again, no sign of him being seen after he started out on the jibboom. The alarm was soon given of a “man overboard,” when it was found that Pahl had disappeared. He had evidently fallen off the jibboom, and the vessel had gone over him. Captain Berry at once tacked ship and went about, passing over the ground where the unfortunate man would have fallen. Nothing was seen. The barquentine was then wore back again in further search of the man, but the quest was unsuccessful, for it was evident that the sailor was drowned. After remaining in the vicinity of the accident for about an hour and a-balf Captain Berry resumed his voyage to Auckland. It is surmised that Pahl met his death through losing his grasp of the jibboom and the sail he was getting in through a sudden lurch of the vessel, and falling backward ’ was lost without hope of rescue. He was a good seaman, and had joined the ship at New York. He Mas a native of Germany, and about 28 years of age. To-day Captain Berry reported the accident to the United States Consul at this/ port, Mr J. D. Connolly. \