FATAL BOATING ACCIDENT.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1960, 24 October 1889, Page 2

FATAL BOATING ACCIDENT.

W ELIINQTON, Oct. 23.

A gad accident happened in the harbor last night, in which two men, named Gunn and James Stewart, lost their lives. It appears the men engaged an open boat, and, accompanied by a young woman named Spaokmap, went for a sail. All went well until abeut 7.30, when they were returning from Petoue, when a sudden squall capsized the bjat, which was a 14-footer with centre-board. The boat at this time was off Rooky Point, near Ngahauranga. Their cries of distress were distinctly beard at Ngahauranga and Kaiwarra, and several boats went off and a constable was despatched from town, but no trace of the boat was found. -Later ;m the evening the Petone Navals, after attending the review, renewed the search at a quarter past eleven, and at half-past twelve were rewarded by finding -the boat, bottom up, iwith Miss Spaokman clinging to the keel. She was at ones placed on board the cutter, and all haste made for Ngahauranga, where the young lady was taken to a hotel, and although very much exhausted she soon recovered. In the course of an interview- this morning Miss Sarah Spaokman, aged 19, the only survivor of last night’s boat accident, states that they left Petone before 7 o’clock, and about ?.40 capsized, owing,she believed, to thp boat jibbing m a squall. All three aooup'autsgot safely on the boat,-she helping Stewart, •who was rather a delicate man. They cried lustily for help, but saw none of the boats sent out to rescue them, After half an hour Steward strength gave out, and he fell baek into the water, and was never seen> again. Gubh, who was a strong, powarfutyOuag'nian, ■bowed signs of exhaustion after btingin hour on the boat, and fell aoross the bottom with hie head almost touching the water. Miss Spaokman pulled him up end said, "Be a man; hang on like Hje, v - He, however, was toe far gone, and a few minutef, later fell off, and MissSpaokman saw him floating alongside the overturned oraft for seme time, but could do nothing to help him. For three hours after this Miss Spaokman set astride of the boat, apparently with little hbpe of being rescued,'and was fast drifting towards the Heads. At last the Petone Naval cutler pame near, and. aha called, “ Shall I throw you a' painter.” The men called to her to cling to the boat, and they would come alongside, which they did, and took her ashore. Miss Spaokman feefi very \ittle effects from ; the exposure, but ftpr left arm and right leg are a Ijktlp bruised. John Gunn was a single man, about 2S years of age. James Stewart was a widower, with three children, and bad friends at Cambridge.