SHOCKING OCCURRENCE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 4513, 15 November 1884, Page 2

SHOCKING OCCURRENCE.

A Man and Two Boys, Drowned Through the Upsetting of a Boat. *

An accident of a most distressing charncter ocourred to a boat in^the harbour this mornipg, and resulted in the drowning of a man named J. Daniels, and two little boys, sons of Mr Thomas Powell, formerly a boardinghouse keeper in Queen-street. The circumstances connected with* the calamity'are as follows:'—■ Mr : Powell has a small farm in the ivicinity 'of Lucas's Greek, where he resides* with his family. He was arixiOuS to bring his .boys Thomas, aged eight years, and George, aged six yeara to town for the purpose of having them placed at'schfiol at the North Shore. It was with this object in view that he left home about fiv. o'clock this'morning in a Bixteen-feet sailing boat.' Besides himself and the children, there was atsb in the boat a man named John Daniels, who was accustomed to work with him. There Was a strong breeze blowing from the southword during the trip down, but there was no' Special reason for anxiety on this account. '"', All; went well until between the Pottery. ami' Kauri Point, when a sudden squall-struck the vessel, and she heeled over and 'tank immediately, Mr Powell pu_hed' an'bar to one of the boys, and he caught iti but soon relaxed his hold and disappeared. The btherr also sank, ■ while' Powell mahaged to'swim ashore with the aid of an oar. The steamer Vivid passed tin her'way ; t6'Auckland immediately afterwards, and he hailed her. A 'boat was sent to his assistance, and having been taken on board, he,was conveyed to'town, where the matter was' reported to Sergeant Clarke, ®f the i Water. Police. ' ■ j

Statement by Mr Powell,

Mr J. Powell, who is very much concerned about the |oss of his-two _ons',' furriiaHM a reporter with the follbwihg p .rticulars .respecting the accident:—For a anort time past I have been living at Lucas's Creek alone with my two Bons—Thomas, aged 8, arid George,'aged; 6—both fine little boys. I had in my employ a man named Daniels and his wife. . Daniels was about 50 years of age,'arid belohgted to Sti.ff.rd.hire. fl wished to place my two boys at an Auckland boarding-school, and about 5 o^cloCk this morning myself, Daniels, and the" two boys got into'my boat'and set Sail." The craft was an open 'sailing boat, with a centre-board. She carried abbut 4cwt. of ballast, which I considered quite sufficient to render her safe under ordinary circumstances,'for only yesterday I cut'2ft. off the mainsail. The wind was dead ahead, and blowing pretty fresh. When we were halfway: between the Hobaonvilla pottery and Kauri Point it became necessary to go about. In jibing, a sudden squall struck the canvas, and capsized the boat, whioh eank almost immediately. Two oars and the stem-sheets floated. Daniels got hold of one, and made' for the shore. I seized the etern-shcets and then tried to get-both of the boys to .he remaining oar. They would persist in holding on to each' other. I struggled to separate them, and give them each a good hold of the oar for about 20 minutes, when they sank, while tightly clasped in each other s arms. I dived and remained under water as long as possible, but failed to see either again. Then I n.ade for the shore, which was about half-a-mile distant. I saw Daniels holding on to his oar and getting shore* ards., Being a good swimmer, I had no difficulty _n Tteeping afloat. Once •when I looked to see how Daniels was getting on he was throwing his arms about? I found he was swimming on his back. When 1 looked for him about 10 minutes later however, he had disappeared; and had undoubtedly been drowned. I got ashore all right, excepting that! was greatly fatigued andjaboutan hour.'ate. I came to Auckland in the ..earner Vivid.