SAD BOATING FATALITY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8086, 17 April 1906, Page 2

SAD BOATING FATALITY.

MAN-O'-WARSMAN DROWNED. PE'i I'ItESS ASSOCIATION. Wki.m.noton, April 16. A sad boating fatality occurred in the harbor this morning. A gig belonging to H.M.S. left the warship shortly after 10 o'clock under the ch.irge ot Steward Sweetinore, for the purpose of going to the watermen's steps. The other occupants of the gig were Bunker, an A.8., Howard, Watts, Richards and Robt, Spinner, making

iv crew of six. A stiff north-west wind was blowing at the time, and the men-o -warsnien look advantage of it to set sail for the run shoreward. When the boat had covered little more than half the distance, she jibed and capsized

The meu scrambled on to the bottom of the gig, but she sank beneath them, and they were left struggling in the water. Some of them managed to s«pport themselves with oars and loose fittings, but two of them, being good swimmers, were able to keep themselves afloat until rescued. The accident was witnessed on board the Pegasus, also by some hundreds of peoplo from the shore, as well as by the ferry steamers. Within two minutes from the time the gig capsizod, a cutter was lowered from the Pegasus and scut off to the scene of the accident. A steamer was coming in from Karaka Bay at the time, and was not more than 300 yds. away when the oapsize occurred. Captain Williams sent her full speed to the spot where the men were, and she and the cutter from the Pegasus succeeded in rescuing five of them. The ferry steamers Duchess and Duco, aud the Government steamer Janie Seddon also bore down to render assistance if necessary. Just before the Admiral reached the scene of the mishap, Bunker threw up his arms aud disappeared, Bunker was the only man drowned.