DROWNING ACCIDENTS. [BY TELEGRAPH.-PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

Waikato Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2252, 14 December 1886, Page 2

DROWNING ACCIDENTS. [BY TELEGRAPH.-PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

Wellington, Sunday. A fatal boat accident occurred in the harbour this morning. Four men employed at the Wellington Woollen Factory, named Walter Ramsden, Edward Taylor, Henry Kaye, and Henry Ev.ms, left Petone at half-pant eight in an open sailing boat with the intention of proceeding to the Penc*rro\v Lighthouse. After passing Soames' Island the wind increased, and thpy de cided to put back. In bringing the boat about Bhe capsized. Ramsden, Ev«uis and Taylor regained the boat, but Kaye wa*> washed some distance away. One man swam to his assistance, and brought him to the boat, but he soon became exhausted, and drowned. Half an hour later Evan" also became exhausted, and was washed off the boat and drowned. The other two clung to the bottom of the boat, which was washed ashore at Ward Island. A passing fishing boat rescued the survivors, and brought them to town. The deceased were about 40 years of age. Evans was a married man, and leaves a wife and three children, who reside at Petone. Kaye had a wife and two children in England. The bodies have not been recovered.

N.vriKß, Saturday. Charles R. Cleveland, fir.st mate of the ship Piako, was drowned this moriuug. The ship was lying out in the roadstead, and a boat was just been sent away to another vessel when Cleveland's cap blew overboard. Telling a boy to throw him a lino he jumped into ths se.i. A line w.is thrown to him, but he f.iiled to reach it. Then a lifebuoy was thrown, and a lifeboat was lowered. Deceased sank soon after reaching the water, and being a splendid swimmer it is thought that he must have been cither seized with cramp or by a .shark. Mr Cleveland was 21) years of age, and serve his apprenticeship in the New Zealand Company's vessels.