Accident and Loss of Life in Nelson Harbor.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4558, 14 August 1883, Page 2

Accident and Loss of Life in Nelson Harbor.

(Pjbb Pbiss , Association.) Nelson, This day: - The pilot boat went out at 3 o'clock this morning to the O.S.S. Co.'s steamer Wanaka, and when returning the boat capsized, and all the crew were lost. Pilot Lowe is safe. Latee.

The dreadful catastrophe this morning when four of the pilot crew were drowned occurred as follows:—The steamer Wanaka came down to the anchorage about 4 o'clock, when it was so intensely dark that it was almost impossible to see one's hand at a distance of. a few inches.- Notwithstanding the dangers of a gale with a high sea, the pilot and orew responded to the signal from the steamer, and put off to her. The boat was safely steered to the ship's side, and Capcain Lowe, the pilot, jumped on board the steamer, and at once the boat turned to come back into the harbor. The ship's officer, who was on duty, states that it was about 4.30, when the boat left, and that directly she got away he saw a big sea come along, and directly it passed heard the men in the boat shout out, " we are all right, but our oars are gone ;"> he then imagined they were setting their sail, but the darkness prevented his seeing more. It appears too certain that a succeeding wave swamped the boat, for this morning it was found bottom up, at daylight, just behind the F.ifeshire rook. The names, of the four men who comprised the crew are:—Wm. Morrison, widower with, several children ; Wm. Header, widower; Eichard Thomas, single, known as " Little Dick ;"■ and a foreigner, named Glaus Johansen, also single. Several boats have gone out in search of the missing men. '