TRAGEDY FEARED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 April 1940, Page 6

TRAGEDY FEARED

THREE MEN BELIEVED DROWNED YACHT FOUND CAPSIZED NEAR AUCKLAND. WIDESPREAD SEARCH PROVES FRUITLESS. (P,y Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, April 18. Grave fears are held for the safety of three members of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, who left Tiritiri Island on Wednesday afternoon for a sail in a small yacht, which was found in the evening capsized with all sail set. The search continued throughout the night, and all day today, but. though a seaplane was used in addition to naval launches no sign of the crew was found. The missing men are: — Ordinary-Signalman W. A. Ryan, Ellerslie. Ordinary-Signalman D. C. Waite. One Tree Hill. Signalman J. W. Dallow, Oriental Bay. Wellington. The three men had been called up for naval service, and were stationed at. Tiritiri Island. When off duty on Wednesday afternoon, they set off for a sail in the T class 14ft yacht Evaine. owned by Ordinary-Signalman Ryan. The yacht was last seen from Tiritiri. making toward Whangaparaoa Peninsula, The yacht was expected back at (> o’clock, and when it had not returned by (1.30, others astitoned on the island wont down to the wharf to look lor it. By 9 p.m.. concern was aroused, and shortly afterward two launches left the naval base to search for the yacht. Meanwhile the auxiliary ketch Endeavour had left Auckland for Portland. Between 9 and 10 p.m. she found the yacht upside down about three miles west of Tiritir.i Unknown to the searchers she took the vessel aboard and continued on her way to Portland. The yacht had all sail set. and the spinnaker wrapped round the masthead indicated that this also had been set.