BOAT UPSETS

Taranaki Daily News, 19 September 1921, Page 4

BOAT UPSETS

FOUR MEN DROWNED. ONE REACHES SHORE. TRAGEDY AT THE PORT. HEROIC RESCUE ATTEMPTS. A boating tragedy involving the death of four men occurred just outside the New Plymouth, breakwater yesterday afternoon. Five men—three members of the crew and two civilians—set out in a small boat from the American-steamer Easterner (in the stream) to reach the wharf, but in the rough sea the small craft overturned, and there is only one survivor.

The small open boat containing the five men was leaving the steamer under a small rigged sail, and a terrific sea was running, with only a light wind. Before the boat came within the protection of the breakwater it got into difficulties with the high breakers, the rudder being washed away. It was then too late to return to the ship, and while attempting to run before the breakers to the beach the boat was capsized and its crew thrown into the water, four being drowned and only one being saved by drifting ashore on a life preserver. The drowned are:—

T. A. Butler, of Wellington, married, a representative of the Vacuum Oil Company. J. Piper, of Upper Hutt, married, with five children, a working foreman.

Wm. Dwight Lindsay, single, of America, supercargo of the Easterner. J. Landers, single, of America, third engineer of the Easterner,

The only survivor of the boat’s crew was R. Deskin, the third officer of the Easterner, who had a miraculous escape from death after heroic attempts to rescue his shipmates. THE TRAGEDY DESCRIBED. Deskin, the sole survivor, speaking to a Daily News reporter regarding his experiences, said that he was ordered to take the boat ashore for the purpose of landing Butler and Piper, who had business regarding the ship’s cargo to attend to in New Plymouth. The boat, a 'frail craft- about 15 feet long, put out in a dangerously rough sea, carrying a small sail and three oars, and having on board the necessary appliances to guard the safety of the crew, such as life-pre-servers and life-belts. From the Easterner the sea did not appear so rough as it looked from the shore. It soon became apparent that the boat could not survive the tremendous seas, but the real difficulty began when the rudder was carried away. Deskin decided to return to the ship, but this was impossible with no rudder and an unfavorable wind. He then tried to run before the breakers and thus reach the shore, but the boat turned broadside on and was overturned, precipitating the crew into the water.

All five managed to gain a hold of the boat, to right it, and climb on board again. The boat, however, had by this time drifted into the breakers near the jagged rocks, and was unmercifully tumbled about by the waves. Butler was washed overboard and carried some distance away, and, in spite of remonstrances from the other members of the crew, Deskin swam out to his assistance and brought him back to the boat. Deskin then lashed Piper, who could not swim, to the boat, and hardly was this task completed when Butler was again washed away about 30 yards. DESKIN’S PLIGHT.

Taking off his, shoes, Deskin again swam out to Butler’s assistance and brought him back to the boat. But the gallant officer’s efforts were to go unreAvarded, as for a third time Butler was carried away by a huge breaker. Heedless of the great risk he ran Deskin again left the boat to help Butler, but this time it was beyond his power to assist the exhausted man, “who,” -said Deskin, “was black in the face and done.” Butler disappeared in the surf and was not seen again by the officer. Deskin found himself in grave difficulties, being unable to make his way back to the boat. AVlien the end seemed to be near Deskin was saved by a drifting life-preserver passing within his reach. Seizing this last chance, he kept ■himself afloat, and eventually drifted on to the rocks, where help was forthcoming from the large crowd that had gathered on the beach.

After being taken to the residence of Mr. E. Gilmour Deskin quickly recovered, and was able to give l a connected account of the tragedy. He stated later that the rudder became jammed, this causing the boat to overturn when ho attempted to return to the ship. Nothing further is known of what happened to the other four men, excepting that eye-witnesses state one was seen to swim towards the shore, only becoming exhausted when nearing the rocks.

The boat was soon thrown upon the rocks by the seas, and within an hour of the upsetting the body of Lindsay drifted in and was rescued by the helpers, who waded out at great risk and dragged it above the breakers. Although showing slight signs of life, Lindsay, was beyond the help of his rescuers, and his body was conveyed to the morgue. NO MORE BODIES.

The scene of the disaster is nearly a mile northward of the wharf, and where the boat and the two men came ashore the beach is strewn with jagged rocks. ith the terrific sea running it was quite impossible to launch a boat with any degree of safety from the beach or from the steamer, and everything was done that could be done under such unfortißiate circumstances. The two New Zealanders who were lost were well known in commercial circles throughout the country, and their death was received as a shock in New Plymouth. Both were married mon, it being understood that Butler’s wife is residing in Napier. Piper, who has a homo in Upper Hutt, leaves a widow and five children. The two Americans lost were both single. The beach was patrolled by the police and others all night, but up till a late hour no sign of fiaissing bodies had bean found. I