THE MOTUROA DISASTER.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 September 1921, Page 4

THE MOTUROA DISASTER.

Words can hardly express the general feeling of sorrow that the sad fatality which occurred in the vicinity of the New Plymouth breakwater on Sunday afternoon has evoked throughout the district. The loss of four valuable lives out of five occupants of a boat is a disaster of no small magnitude, the more distressing by reason of the fact that two out of the four were married men resident in the Dominion, though just as much sympathy is felt for the loss of the two American members of the crew of the Easterner, which was anchored in the stream. It is quite conceivable that the dangerous nature of the surf at this spot when the sea is at all rough was not realised by those on board the Easterner. Once the small boat that was coming ashore got broad-side on to the rollers there was very little chance of its reaching its destination, and when the rudder was put out of action disaster was inevitable. Unfortunately it was impossible to launch a boat to rescue the imperilled men, owing to the heavy seas that, were coming ashore. Nothing but a powerdriven boat or a whale-boat could have been of service, and the way in which the small craft was tossed about when drifting towards the rocks showed how impossible it was to effect a rescue. The outstanding feature of the great struggle for life was the heroic way in which the third officer of the Easterner (Mr. R. Deskin) endeavored to bring the other occupants to safety. That he failed was due to the feat being beyond human accomplishment; but his brave efforts stand out as a worthy tribute to sailors generally, and reflect the highest credit on his indomitable courage and perseverance. To the dependents and relatives of all the victims of the catastrophe the deepest sympathy is offered. Such a calamity is, fortunately, most rare, and when it happens it meets with that general grief which is always felt for both the vjctims and the bereaved.