FATAL ATTEMPT

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 54, Issue 95, 1 February 1934, Page 5

FATAL ATTEMPT

CROSSING OF COOK STRAIT. FRAIL CRAFT CAPSIZES. OWNER LOSES HIS LIFE. CPer Press Association). WELLINGTON, This Day. . An attempt by two men in a highspeed motor-boat to make a 50-mile dash from Wellington to Picton yesterday evening ended tragically, resulting in the death of Mr H. Clarke, of Wellington, owner of the boat. With Mr Clarke in the boat was Mr W. W. Barrett-Wood, of Melbourne, a member of the Royal Brighton Yachting Club. The Elto left Wellington at 5.15 o'clock yesterday afternoon. All went well until a mishap off Cape Terawhiti caused the craft to capsize shortly after 7 o'clock. »

' At 10.25 p.m. the steamer Kiwitea, en route to Wellington, heard cries from the overturned boat, which by then had drifted' toward the Brothers Lighthouse. At 10.40 p.m. the men were taken on board the steamer, but Mr Clarke died later. Mr Wood was in an extremely exhausted, condition. He, had supported Mr Clarke in the water for three hours. The Elto is a light craft, said to be capable of a speed of up to 50 miles an hour.

SHARK CRUISES NEARBY. CLARKE EARLY BECAME DELIRIOUS. ; WELLINGTON, This Day. . Mr Clarke, the victim of the Cook Strait speedboat was not able to swim, and for three hours Mr Barrett-Wood clung to the hull of the Miss Wellington, supporting, him. Several times Mr Barrett-Wood was forced to leave the craft in order to regain a hold on his companion, and when at last, his calls for assistance were heard aboard the Kiwitea he was in a state of extreme exhaustion, and Clarke was unconscious.

The boat had just passed through two rips before trouble was experienced, and the craft drifted into a third, out of control, and the seas began filling her. In a short time she sank, and the men were left clinging to the hull. The Nelson ferry steamer, Matangi, passed in the darkness, the cries of the distressed men failing to reach her. The failure of the boat to arrive at Picton caused anxiety, and four broadcast announcements were made from 2YA between 8.15 o'clock and 10 p.m. The accident occurred shortly after 7 o'clock, and the broadcasts were heard on board the Kiwitea, and a watch was being kept for the boat. ( At 10.25 o'clock the master (Captain Grey) heard cries, and the boat was eventually located in turbulent water. With darkness descending, Mr Bar-rett-Wood's ordeal was added to by the fact that a shark was cruising about No attacks were made, and by splashing the men kept it at a distance They were wearing lifebelts, but Mr Barrett-Wood had to keep a grip on his companion to prevent Jum ?rom being washed away. Several times this happened, and Mi Barrett-Wood had to bring hint back The shock resultant from the lengthy immersion, was too much for Mi Clarke, however, and he was dead before being lifted aboard the Kiwitea • The spot was midway between ythe Brothers lighthouse and the Kaioii was a 15-foot, outboard motor-boat driven by,*£s *.p. engine. She belonged to Mr Barrett, Wood, and carried a spare engine, owned by Clarke and another. An attempt was planned to cross the, „,■ ..." +I ,„V n f Mr Woodman. Aiconditions along the CO Tt W rXrn^^We^ s^ to Tlifnking that she was perhaps going to PetoneMr Woodman set out to folW her b t when, he saw her rouud\Z iSt Halswell, he turned back U When he did so, h* hoped +n -hmv the occupants oi Miss weium,. Jon that lie 3 did ilot intend to, make the M-fwsinfl: an impression they nuyu havS gained by the fact that he ft* IC Sadt e stable to do so he would Hngion was that the engine drivmg the craft made the boat's speed too high t,n u a vitiate the trip. . , M Barrett-Wood, interviewed stated this- afternoon that when the boat sot into the third rip, water was bieakSig aboard and caused the engine to cut out and the after cockpit became filled with water. , ~ Thev got on to the bow and tueci to paddle the boat, head into the wind but the breaking waves caused hei to capsize. He attempted twice to swim to Cape Terawhiti, but turned back both times owing to exhausion and the Se Mr Clarke was all right for the first hour, but after that, because he was sliohtlv delirious and the coming o the shark, -she suffered completed' nervous exhaustion. CONDITIONS FAVOURED DASH. CREW HELD HIGH HOPES. WELLINGTON, January 31. An attempt by two men in a 50-miles-an-hour outboard motor-boat this evening to make a dash across Cook Strait, from Wellington to Picton, A distance of 50 miles, caused considerable anxiety. The boat left at 5 p.m. and it was estimated that the cross-

ing would take an hour and a quarter, but at a late hour nothing had been seen of it on either side of the Strait. ' ■• , '. -. ■' • '

Shortly before midnight word was received that a launch had been picked up by the steamer Kiwitea. No details were given, and whether the is the mitboard' boat, and its occupants are 1 safe, will not be definitely known until the vessel berths at 1.30 a.m.

The two men who attempted the sensational dash are Mr W. F. BarrettWood, and Mr H. Clarke, the owner of the boat. They left Wellington xinder very favourable conditions and with high hopes of setting a new record for the Cook Strait crossing. ».< DOUBLE CROSSING ATTEMPT. WELLINGTON MAN'S PLANS. ' WELLINGTON, January 31. A double crossing of Cook Strait in an outboard motor-boat is to be attempted by Mr Alan Woodman, commodore of the Wellington Outboard Club. He may start to-day.