LAMENTABLE ACCIDENT IN AUCKLAND HARBOUR.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 2414, 29 December 1887, Page 2

LAMENTABLE ACCIDENT IN AUCKLAND HARBOUR.

POUR YOUNG MEN DROWNED. Considerable gloom lias been cast over Auckland by the upsetting of a yacht on Monday, w]|ieh resulted in the lost of four lives. A party of young men consisting of Messrs Herbert M. Hammond, Richard J. Dehney, Henry Percy Bankart, Alfred S. Bankart. John Armstrong and George J. Harker, set sail in a 4 ton yacht belonging to Mr Hammond for a several days cruise. When off the Takapuna Shore a sudden squall struck the vessel and she capsized sinking immediately. All the crew were swimmers, and struck out for the shore. But, they were about two'or three miles from the land, and the sea was rough, and one after the other they became exhausted and sank. Only two of the party succeeded in reaching (.he shore, Herbert M. Hammond was a son of Mr W. H. Hammond, Registrar of the Native Hand Court, about ID years of age, and a popular footballer and cyclist. He was a clerk in the office of Messrs Hughes and Qenrge, solicitors, Richard J. Dehney was a fellow-olerk of the above, and an enthusiastic artist. He was about thirty-five years of age, and much liked, Henry Bankart was a frank young fellow of fine spirit, and also an artist, and only 18 years of age. He was a twin and inseparable companion of his brother Alfred, who escaped, John was a son of capfain Armstrong of the North Shore, and was a tall, dark, young man of lit years of ago employed at Macky, Logan and Steen’s warehouse. Search is being made for the bfjdiea.