FATALITY AT SEA.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 473, 21 May 1890, Page 5

FATALITY AT SEA.

TWO BROTHERS DROWNED. Auckland, May 16. Captain R. E. Smith, of the steamer Arawata, which arrived at Wellington from Auckland last evening, reported that when off Cape Runaway, at seven o’clock the previous morning, he spoke tho fore-and-aft schooner Maud Graham, bound frc-m Lyttelton to Auckland. The crew of the fatter vossel lowered a boat and came on board the Arawatn. They reported that on Sunday night, when the schooner was off Portland Island, running before a Btrong southerly gale, heavy seas broke on board, and swept the captain and the mate (brothers named Fitzgerald) overboard. Nothing more was seen of the two unfortunate officers, and it was too rough to lower a boat. The vessel had her wheel damaged, but temporary repairs had been effected. In reply to Captain Smith, of tho Ara wata, who offered to give the Maud Graham’s crew a man to take her to her destination, the crew said that they could manage all right. The late Captain Fitzgerald, of the Maud Graham, was a resident of Lyttelton, a good sailor, and much liked by hia employers. He was only recently married. To-day nil the vessels in port in Auckland flew their flags at half-mast, out of respect to the memory of the two brothers. The circumstances under which the two sailors lost their lives were shocking, and much regret was expressed here at the disaster. Both the Fitzgeralds were wellknown in this port. The elder, the master, was hardly more than 26 years of age. Ho leaves ayoung wife in Lyttelton.