SENSATIONAL BOAT ACCIDENT
CAPSIZE OFF BOWENTOWN. MAX TOWS COMPANION 2% MILES. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Waihi, January 4. A sensational boating accident occurred on Thursday evening at Bowentown Heads, where a number of Waihi residents are camped for the holidays. Four men—E. Edwards, W. Moran, J. O'Brien, and W. Richards—left the beach in a small open sailing boat for the upper harbor. The latter two landed at Matakana Island for the purpose of snipe shooting. When the boat was oyer a mile off Kauri Point the throat slipped from the mast, causing the sail to blow out at the peak. The boat capsized immediately, and sank.
Edwards, though unable to swim, exhibited great presence of mind. Moran constructed a temporary raft from two oars and a fishboard, to which Edwards clung, and Moran then swam with the rait, directing its course to Matakana Island, against a strong ebb tide and in a heavy gale. The night was dark, and owing to the strong current Moran missed his objective point, being gradually drawn into the channel by the current, which runs over the bar to sea at a terriflic rate. At this critical moment the cries of both men were heard on the island by O'Brien and Richards, who entered the water off the last jut of the island and succeeded in getting both men safely ashore a minute later. Edwards was in a semi-uncoffscious state, but was restored on application of hot sand and rubbing. Richards and O'Brien then attracted the attention of some campers at the heads by firing guns and lighting fires, and the whole party were eventually taken off in a motor launch. Edwards and Moran were two hours in the water, and Moran swam about two and a half miles In a choppy sea.
The boat is the identical craft which recently capsized with Slavin and others. Moran's conduct is highly commended, and it is suggested locally that his gallant behaviour should be represented to the proper authorities with a view to suitable recognition.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TDN19110106.2.46
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Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 226, 6 January 1911, Page 5
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337SENSATIONAL BOAT ACCIDENT Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 226, 6 January 1911, Page 5
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