TAMAKI BOATING DISASTER.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 February 1922, Page 7

TAMAKI BOATING DISASTER.

FURTHER DETAILS. By Telegraph.—PreM Association Auckland, Feb, 27. A drowning accident occurred nt the mouth of the Tamaki River at 7,20 p.m. on Saturday, the victims were both married.' They were Keith Naylor Laurie, aged 30, of Ponsonby, and Charles Knox Russell, aged 31, of Morningside. Deceased had been living nt the beach with Hayr, junr., Albert Jerome and Phil Brown. All of the party had their wives with them. The five man had been for a trip in the launch Waiter! and, on returning, anchored about 70 yards from the beach. Hayr remained on the launch as ’ there was not enough room in the dinghy. The other four started for the shore, one sculling. When about 50 yards from the beach the dinghy capsized. Brown could not swim and clung to the upturned boat. The other three struck out, Jerome calling over his shoulder to know if Laurie was safe. He received a reassuring answer and this was thlast he saw of the two deceased, who were swept toward the mouth of the river by the strong ebb tide, which also carried the dinghy and Brown to sea. The wives of the men on shore, hearing calls for help, gave the alarm and dinghies soon put out to render assistance. Jerome was caught in the current and carried to the reef and held on until rescued. George Russell, brother of one of the deceased, swam to the launch and attempted to start the engine, but the latter broke down. The rescue boats gained the middle of the stream but there was no trace of Laurie or Russell, though the search was continued through the night. The dinghy to which Brown was clinging was carried into shallow water and the women waded out and secured him, allowing the boat to drift away. Russell was a brother-in-law of Laurie. Mrs. Laurie has lost both her husband and brother.