TWO MEN DROWNED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 April 1940, Page 5

TWO MEN DROWNED

LAUNCH OVERTURNS AT TAIERI MOUTH. STRUCK BY LARGE WAVE. (Bv Telegraph—Pl-ess Association.) DUNEDIN, April 17. A double drowning tragedy occurred at Taieiri Mouth today, when the fishing launch Pansy, owned by Thomas Edward and Robert Tunnage, overturned on the bar and the two occupants were drowned. The Tunnage brothers, who were fishermen, were on their way back to harbour when, at about 1.30 p.m., their craft was struck by a wave as it crossed the bar. It overturned and was swamped. A boat put out from the shore, but the rescue party could find neither the missing launch nor the two members of the crew. Another fishing launch coming into the harbour after the Pansy, saw the swamped vessel, but there was no sign of the two brothers, and it is certain that they have been drowned, though the bodies have not. yet been recovered. The tragedy took place at ebb tide. The Pansy was a 40ft fishing smack, powered by a Diesel engine, and. though the sea running at the time was only moderate, it is believed that it was an unusually large wave that caused the craft to overturn. Both brothers were married. Thomas Edward Tunnage leaving three children. and Robert one child.