WHANGAPE LAUNCH ACCIDENT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8867, 30 October 1907, Page 7

WHANGAPE LAUNCH ACCIDENT.

A MAORI'S GRAPHIC STORY. the best story yet told in connection with the recent launch fatality at Whangape, is that contained in a letter from Wi Hare, one of the native survivors, to a cousin in Auckland. After describing how the capsize came without warning and how, foreseeing danger he stripped off everything but his socks, Wi Hare goes on;— "Immediately the launch upset I was canued away by a huge wave, but was put back again to the launch. Whether the sea put me „. baek to the launch, or the launch followed me up, I cannot say, but I found myself hanging on the keel once more. Before the waves finally parted me from the launch, however, I noticed one of my white brethren a few yards away on his own. I could see thatghe just could manage to keep himself afloat. I stretched my arm out, but he was out uf my reach. Just then a piece of timber from the wreck came thundering past me. It struck partly the launch and myself. I quickly grasped it, thus giving me a final parting with the launch. Mounting the piece of timer, I started off 'like a good one,' glancing at every side to see my poor chums. I had not gone very far when I saw my white brother again, and this time his head was almost under water, and just the tips of his fingers above water, as much as waving farewells for the last time. Giving an extra kick I shjved the timber from underneath me and immediately it struck my brother's hands. He evidently thought that he had struck a mountain, for he quickly grasped it and stuck to it like glue. That timber saw him safely to good old earth once again, leaying me unarmed to battle the waves. I thought time had come for me to make for somewhere. Here I started. Although not so very far from land, as I could see the mountains now and again, it seemed a thousand miles. However, I kept on, keeping my head and shoulders protty well above water* Many a dive I had, and many a mottthfulof salt water. At some of the dives I thought I was not coming up to the surface again, but every time I smiled at the fishes they shoved me • back again to the surface. I could hear cries for help from my comrades as the wind passed me, and I could hear farewells and goodbyes. This made ray blood run cold., The last I saw was my Maori brother with two of my white brethren. They were a few yards apart from one another. The Maori breathed his |£yast words to me, 'Haere ra rhoe' my comrades), and when I HHBHfround he was gone. I heard from my other white HMretbren, whom 1 believed to be the brothers. Whether they were saying good-bye to me or bidding good-byes to themselves, that I could not say, but responding to the 'good-bye' I looked round and they also had disappeared. When I saw my dear comrades disappearing to the bosom of the deep in my very presence I fell my blood running dry within me. Every time I stretched forth my right arm I never knew it would ever come back to me again, as the spot I now struggled in swarmed with sharks of all shapes and sizes. When I reached the shore I found myself naked, with but a pair of socks to cover me. Good Samaritans, however, quickly found me. They bound my wounds quickly and attended to all my necessities."