AOHONGA DISASTER

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 10713, 9 January 1913, Page 5

AOHONGA DISASTER

THE LATEST DETAILS,

NO TRACE OF MISSING MEN

Mr W. H. Denby, brother-in-lax of one of the victims of the launch fatality" at Aohonga, and partner ir business with another, returned tr Masterton last- evening after a fKh{rent and unsuccessful search of five days. ' In conversation with an Ace re preventative, Mr Denby gave the details of the disaster as near as hj«" could ascertain them. It aopenrrthat Mr Sam Potangaroa, with hv brother-in-law, James Power, left ir the oil launch at 11.30 a.m. on Ney Year's Day, with the intention of in dulging in 'deep-sea fishing. When they reached the mouth of .the river, they picked up Duncan and McKenzie, who were fishing from the rocks. The ■sea, at thi« time, was as smooth as possible. Tlie launch , went out to the steamer Kahu. which wa-sat anchor, and stayed there till 1.30 p.m. They then left in the direction of the mouth of the river. This was the last that was seen of the launch and its men. Between the time that the launch left for the Kahu and its re- ' turn, the sea had. become. rough. and I it is thought the craft capsized nearl the mouth of the river. On the following morning two oars beloneino: to i the launch, the grating from the bottom of the craft, a hat helonsinjr to Sam Potangaroa. and a handkerchief were washed ashore. Since then, a boot belonging to James Power has been found on the beach, but, up till ten o'clock yesterday morninji, not a trace of the bodies of the victims was j discovered. Mr Denby states that the whole of i the occupant's of- the launch • were ; strong swimmers. Duncan and MeKenzie, two of the missing men. were engagd on a bush-felling contract on Mr H. T." Hume's property at Aohonga. A buU lock-driver of the station:, named' Tim Olliver, was about to join the party on the launch, but was deterred by the blowing of the whistle of the Kahu, which he took as a summons to himself to proceed' to the landingshed. The warning was a timely one. as it probably saved him his life. Patrol parties of natives and Europeans have been up and down the | beach from daylight to dark since the j fatality occurred, but have found noj thing excepting the articles describI ed above.