FATAL BOAT ACCIDENT—FOUR MEN OF THE 70th DROWNED.

West Coast Times, Issue 96, 8 January 1866, Page 2

FATAL BOAT ACCIDENT—FOUR MEN OF THE 70th DROWNED.

, (From the Southern Gross.) 11.M.5, Eclipse, Captain Preemnntle. returned to Auckland yesterday with -the remainder of II.M. 70th Regiment, from Napior, and reports the occurrence ot a very distressing accident during tho embarkation of the jnen, which resulted m tho death by drowning of two sergeants, a corporal, and a private of the 70th Regiment. The particulars oi the accident, us courteously furnished by the officers of the Eclipse,' aro briefly as follows :— It appears tho 'men were embarking in small boats ; and in order to iucilitatc tho work, surf boats had been employed to supplement tho services ot thq men-of-war's crews. Tho ljolipse was auchorcd at a distance of almost v milo from shore, as tho surf was running high at tho timo. A boat lett tor the vessel, with Captain Roger and 19 men in it; but had not proceoded very far before she was observed to bo too deeply laden and too iuoffi- % ciently manned to proceed far in safety Soveral heavy breakers strucK thp boat, uudsho gradually sank beneath her livin<* freight, leaving them battling with the waves. The boatmen saw the danger impending, and jumped into the. watw

>* before she foundered, leaving the men to their fate. The accident was observed from shore, from on board the man-of-war, and the brigautino Eclipse. A small boat belonging' to the latter was the first to arrive at .tho scone of tho disaster, aud assist in rescuing the drowning men. The man-of-war's boats and *^^v boats from the shoro were also quickly put off, but the distance was such that some time elapsed before tho men wore reached, and fifteen only out of nineteen were saved. . The following wore drownod whilst endeavoring to reach the shore by swimming, shortly after tho accident, and before any assistance could • be rendered, namely : — Colour-Serjeant Fahey, Serjeant Eastwood, Corporal • Kelly, and private Warrington, all of tho v ?Oth Regiment, The deceased were all well known and highly respected by their comrades, having seen much service in the regiment. Colour-Sergeant Fahey was very popular with the incn,and had 1 seen 1 7 year's service in the regiment. The painful circunintancc has cast a gloom over the regiment, which is about to proceed home, after iinrd service in this colony. Prior to tho accident the' men were in high spirits at the near . approach of their release from active J^. service and projected departure for England. Our informant attributes the accident mainly to the inefficiency of the men in charge of the surf boat, and its-overcrowded state. It is, therefore, to be regretted tho officers in charge should have permitted any over-crowd-ing, although, it must bo said, no blame can Ufe attributed to them in consequence of the unhappy result. Upon the ai rival of thq Eclipse in Auckland yesterday, the men and their a oS a o c were 'debarked in the ship's boats and cargo boats, and marched to the Albert Barrack Square, whence they shortly afterwards proceeded to their quarters at Otahuhu, where they will remain until embarking for England on board the ships Siam and Ida > Zeigler. The following officers accompanied the men : — Captains Cay and Roger, Lieuts. Gricrson, Wliitburn, and How-

avtl. Ensign Lcnnnrd.

There wore

154 rank and file.