DROWNING ON SUNDAY.

Auckland Star, Volume XVI, Issue 3807, 23 October 1882, Page 2

DROWNING ON SUNDAY.

Capsize of the Open - Sailing

Boat Madge.

Another fatal boat accident has to be recorded, and on this occasion, unfortunntely,ia connection with Sunday pleasuresailing in the liarbour. The well known open-sailing boat Madge, in charge of William Mattb.wg, and having also on board two young men, named John ] Scott and William Cook, was out sailing in company with several other craft yesterday afternoon. The Madge was lightly ballasted, carrying only 14cwt. of lead, aud many persons who watched her progress from the shore feared Bhe would go over at any moment. She curiied new wash-atreakes, and was , running with thtse constantly under water, while one of the crew was kept continually bailing, It was evident to those on the boat that she could not stand up to the breeze, and when off tbe Wynynrd Pier, abnut a mile distant, anchor was dropped aud a double reef taken iv tbo miiinsnil, When getting underway again, the jib fouled tho fore part of tho mainsail, and before way could ha got on tho boat, a tudden gust struck her brondaide-ou. Sho capsized, and instantly sank, Scott and Cook, who were in the forward part of the Madge, jumped clear of the sinking boat and into tho w-ter, while Matthews, who was steering, was carried down with her, The Madge evidently tank in shall., w water, for the ma.t remained above the surface. Scott got hold of this and pushed a boat-hook toward* Cook, who was unable to Bwiui, The boat-hook seemed inaillicicnt to keep the young man afloat, and Matthawn, having got clear ol the boat, swain to his ns.iatancc. He held Cook above water fur a lew seconds, and until tbey had dtifted fully 20 vurda from tbeircompauiou on the west. No assistance was immediately at hand, and Matthews, finding bit strength failing, was compelled to leave the unfortunate feliow to his own exertion", and swam bick to the mast for subpart. Cook soon afterwards sank, without having spoken a word. Tbe accident was noticed from several boats, but too late to save the livoa of all. The Observer, Iv charge; of Mr O. Wuyinoutb, wa« the first to come up. Seeing two man on the most, Mr Wayutouth thought they «eie all right, and as a hat was floating in tho water-some little distanc-i ofl he lirf t steered for it, thinking tbe third mun might bo there. Upon discovering tbe mistnko all attention waa turned towa.ds Matthews aud Scott, who still retained hold of the mast. Before tho Observer could reach them, however, a dingy belou-ing to the schooner M.ry Elleu, pulled by Messrs Jaraos Kerr and .Richard Fitzgerald, came down and rescued the two young men, who were in a very exhausted condition. Savemlothersailingboats came to reudor aisittance if needed, but were too lato, The young man, William C)ok, who met his death by thisuufoitutiiite accident, was about 24 years of age, one of three brothers, the ton-fa-widow, residing near St. Thomas's Church, in Union-street. C»ok was a single man, and in company with his biothers, kept a boot store in Wellington-street. We trust that tbe sad termination of this pleasure ttip will have the effect of, in some measnro at lo.st, putting a stop to .Sunday boating, which scums decidedly on the increase, and further, will on all occasions ahew tha necessity of considering the state of tho we.ther and condition of tho boat b-fore vcutuiing forth io the harbour at the peril of ltung iht livos of all on boatd.

The Mmlge was recovered this morning and beached. She has sustained no damage,