TRAGIC STORY.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 March 1922, Page 5

TRAGIC STORY.

SEAPLANE DISASTER. ONLY PILOT SAVED. FIVE PASSENGERS DROWNED By Telegraph.—Press Assn, —Copyright. Received March 2£, 5.5 p.m. New York, March 25. A report from Miami, Florida, states that a passenger seaplane fell into the sea, five passengers being drowned, the pilot (Moore) being rescued. Further reports state that on Friday the boat overturned. Moore and one passenger were then clinging to the Wreckage, but finally the passenger became too weak to hold on. He handed his money to Moore and then slid into the sea. Moore hung on till Friday night, when lie was picked up by a tanker, nine vessels having in the meantime passed by without seeing,him.

Later, on the arrival of the tanker at Miami, a tragic story was revealed. Moore was incoherent after regaining consciousness, but his statements, when pieced together, show that the seaplane left Miami on Wednesday, bound for Bimini, and carrying two married couples and another woman. On Wednesday the propeller broke, and the ’plane descended into the sea and drifted till Thursday, the passengers clinging to the wreck. On Thursday morning the hull began to leak, and the passengers were pumping -frantically. On Thursday night one woman jumped overboard, her husband following, and both were drowned. Then the two other women were washed overboard anddieappeared, leaving onej man and