BOAT ACCIDENT IN THE WELLINGTON HARBOUR.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 5, Issue 1569, 28 December 1883, Page 2

BOAT ACCIDENT IN THE WELLINGTON HARBOUR.

TWO LIYES : ;LOST.

One of those unfortunate eccurrencea incidental to boating happened in Wellington ' Harbour oil- the evening .of Christmas Day, two men losing their lives within a short distance of the shove. Between 6 . and 7 o'clock Henry Lee, Charles Woolan, and Thomas Williiims, two of whom reside at Ngahauranga, started out from that place in a small boat with the object of whiling away a few hours by fishing in the harbour, On reaching a distance of several hundred yards from the beach, the anchor was cast overboard, and an effort was made to catch some fish. In this they were unsuccessful, and as it was believed that a better spot was near Somes' Island, the occupants of the boat rowed to within a mile' or bo of the quarantine station, After remaining there until 10 o'clock the men decided to return home, and the boat's head was accordingly turned towards the shore, The dingy was a small one, aud one of the oarsmen catching what is commonly known as a " crab" with his paddle, the little craft was capsized, and the occupants precipitated into the water. The men at ouce seized hold of the boat as she lay bottom up, and managed to keep themselves afloat for some minutes. With the object, doubtless, of righting her, Lee and Woolan took hold of one side, and in less than a minute she turned over and knocked them senseless, both sinking to the bottom like stones.' Williams retained his grasp of the keel, and succeeded in attracting the attention of a Mr Bryant, who was standing on the Ngahauranga road, by cooeing, Mr Bryaut lost no time in communicating his fears to Mr Tyer and a resident named £uie, and the trioi immediately set about constructing a i raft, no boat of any sort being obtainable; live planks were nailed to-, gether, and on this frail craft Luio managed to reach Willi ins just as be was about to give up ali hope, • As the raft would not carry tw;i persons, Luie kept paddling about in the vicinity and encouraging Williams lo retain his hold until help arrived. Williams maintained his grasp, aud in about half-an-hour he was rescued by a boat from Kaiwarra, whither the news had been conveyed from Ngahauranga by Mr Bannister, On being brought to land Williams was found to be in a very exhausted condition, and some time elapsed before he could be brought round, -Leo was a married man of about 32, and is said to have been an excellent seaman, Woolan was only 19 years of age, and resided with his parents at Petone, Both men wore employed as carters by Messrs J. & H. Barber, Williams, the survivor, who is employed as barman at Putter's Hotel at Ngahauranga, states that none of the party were under the influence of liquor, Up to a late hour to-day, the bodies had not been recovered,

A correspondent informs us that Williams is a nephew of the unfortunate man of the same name- who was drowned in this harbor some weeks ago.—Evening Post. .