YACHTING ACCIDENT.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 98, 1 June 1914, Page 8

YACHTING ACCIDENT.

A NEAR TUNG.

Late yesterday afternoon, at Lyttelton, a strong nor'-wester blew at times with great violence, and the small craft in the harbour had a rough time. As the yacht Kiwi was beating up the harbour between Pyne's Quarry and Black Point an extra hard puff caught the .yacht. She filled with water and sank in a few minutes, leaving the three occupants — A. M'Cormack, J. Anderson, and C. Gilmour—in the water. The mishap was noticed on board the schooner Eliza Firth, lying at anchor in the stream, and a boat was immediately lowered and proceeded to the rescue; However, some fifteen minutes elapsed gljng men. were reached and, placed in the boat. The accident was also noticed by thQse "on -/board the small steamer Canterbyry,which was lying at. the Biawharf, and she arrived on the scene and took the men from the boat to the 'Lyttelton Wharf, where Dr Newajl'was summoned, as GilmoUr was 4n a Semi-conscious state. Gilmour was removed to : the night-watchman 's lodge of the Lyttelton Harbour Board, where, after about half-an-hour's efforts in front- of a roaring fire, he was well enough to be conveyed to his home in a motor.-' • : . T r 'en all reside in- Lyttelton, and are; said/ to ;be experienced -in handling eye#itness of v£Ee. mishap from "shock,' likely • caused by his sudden immersion in the icy-coid water. His companion Anderson undoubtedly had saved his life, for before assistance arrived Gilmour was in difficulties and had sunk twice. Anderson, noticing this, swam 'to and supported Gilmour till the boat from the Eliza Firth picked them upSeen last niglxt by a SUN representative Cormack, the owner of the yacht Kiwi, narrated his trying experiences and his chief worry was,about the condition of Gilmour and not the loss of the yacht. He described the squall that brought about the filling of the boat as the worst in his experience while yachting in Lyttelton Harbour. When they left Diamond Harbour with a jib and mainsail up there was no apparent indication of the weather increasing. M'Cormack stated that the worst part of the immersion was when waiting for the arrival of the boat from the Eliza Firth. It; seemed hours before she picked them 1 up, but he reckoned that had it not been for the prompt action of those on board the schooner all three in the water must have been drowned, struggling as they were with all their clothes and boots on. "In fact," continued M'Cormack, "Gilmour called out to me, 'Good-bye, Pat, I'm done,' but fortunately the rescuing! boat arrived just in time " The yacht Kiwi was built at Lyttelton about three years ago by Mr J. H. Collins for his own use, and was purchased by Mr M'Cormack about six months ago. She is well known in third-! class events, and has won many races. She is a centre-board craft and has some scwt of lead for a keel. The heavy keel is stated to be the cause_ of the yacht sinking so quickly after filling. The Kiwi has been on the slip at Lyttelton for a week undergoing overhaul and painting, and it was only at the last moment that the owner decided .to go for the sail which ended in the loss of his craft and nearly in the loss of life. Mr" Anderson, one of those on board the Kiwi when she went down, is a married man, and has had considerable experience in sailing in Lyttelton.. Another yacht, while beating up the Lyttelton Harbour off Quail Island yesterday afternoon, nearly capsized. Sail was reduced somewhat hurriedly, and the yacht arrived at her moorings without sustaining any damage.