BRITISHER OVERBOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 187, 29 July 1908, Page 2

BRITISHER OVERBOARD.

T'HE AUCKLAND WHARF SENSATION. The special correspondent of a contemporary gives further particulars of the incident in connection with the departure of the Britishers on Monday. Just as the Victoria cast oil', Perc,\ Down (one of the British forwards) overbalanced and fell overboard betweei the wharf and the steamer.

Down was saying "Hood-bye" to a friend 011 the wharf when the steamer swung out into the stream. Shaking hands with his friend, Down was suddenly overbalanced by the steamer moving oil'. The British footballer became entangled in a portion of the gear, and, turning a complete somersault over the vail, fell with a splash into the water. Immediately there was a wild cry from the thousands assembled on the wharf, "Man overboard."

Instantly ropes were dropped down over the side of the steamer, but liefore this was done Jackett (fclie British fu'lback) had divested himself of his overcoat and dived overboard, followed immediately afterwards by Gillctt and Francis (of the New Zealand team), who were standing close by when tlw accident occurred.. 1 Another man named Cassidy also divc-d overboard to effect a rescue. Down, although a fair swimmer, was handicapped by a lieavy overcoat he was wearing at tho time, and was making frantic struggles in the water while crying loudly for lielp. It took some minutes before the rescuers succeeded in getting the British footballer out of the water, which they eventually did amid cheers from tho assembled thousands.

It was a narrow escape, and the danger was intensified by tho possibility of the steamer boring closely against the wharf, where rescuers and rescued might have been crushed to death. 'Fortunately, tho captain of the Victoria, realising the position, kept the steamer out ill the stream, and avoided what might have lieen a sad catastrophe. In diving overboard Jackett receiv-'d

a slight concussion, but the others were none the worse for the incident, though Down received a shaking and a shock to the system. The event cast quite a.damper 011 the send-off to the British footballers, which was witnossed by thousands of people.