Two Persons Drowned In Harbour.— Narrow Escape of a Third.

Auckland Star, Volume XVII, Issue 98, 24 April 1886, Page 2

Two Persons Drowned In Harbour.— Narrow Escape of a Third.

One of thoso sad boating accidents which appear to bo peculiar as happening on holidays, when everybody is intent upon enjoying themselves, occurred in harbour yesterday morning, and caused a widespread feel- ) ing of regret. About 11 a.m., Master W. J Parsons, a son of Mr E. B. Parsons, of Ponsonby, was rowing for recreation in a small Oft. dingy off Shelly Beach, when he thought he heard someone calling from about midstream. He looked in that direction, and at first was under the impression that he saw the fin of a shark above water about the sandbank, but on rowing out further, he discovered that it was the head of someone Bwimming, and evidently in great distress The weather at this time was stormy, with a strong northerly breeze and choppy sea, and it was therefore a somewhat risky undertaking to pick a person out of the water with a mero "cockleshell. Master Parsons, however, put forth every effort, and speedily got alongside of the swimmer, a lad of about 16 years of age, who was very much exhausted, and was being rapidly carried down harbour by the tide. Master Parsons cautioned him as to the manner in which he should get into the boat, and he then sat down in tho bow, whilst the unfortunate young fellow got over the stern The lad thus rescued from a watery grave gave his name as Colin Stewart, and stated that he believed his father and a lad named Russell Pulford, a Bon of Mr W. S. Pulford, had been drowned. Master Parsons stood up in the dingy and made a close search of the harbour, but failed to ccc any other persons in the water, and then pulled in shore and landed young Stewart. How the Accident Occurred. Young Stewart states that early yesterday morning his father (Mr John Stewart), Russell Pulford, and himself went out for a sail in a small open boat. They were about half-way across the harbour, between Ponsonby and the Sugar Works, when they decided to put the boat's head round to go on another tack. In doing so, a sudden squall Btrue.k the sail and capsized the boat. Her occupants were immediately thrown into the water, but succeeded in rretting hold of the boat, which then floated bottom upwards. They tried to climb on top of her, but she sank under them, and nothing remained but for them to attempt to reach the shore. The nearest point was the reef at Ponsonby. Colin Stewart Btruck out for this point, leaving his father, who was a good swimmer, in company with Master Pulford, a lad about five years of age. He had proceeded some distance when he looked back and saw that His Father Had Pulford on His Back. Subsequently he looked for them, but ' they had disappeared from view, the father, 1 in a heroic effort to save the life of his little friend, having perished^ in the 1 waves. Young Stewart continued to ■ swim in the direction of the shore, but the ' ebbing tide carried him down the stream, 1 and he was speedily exhausted. He called ' loudly for help, and Master Parsons re--1 sponded, with the result already recorded. • Both lads undoubtedly deserve great credit > for the coolness displayed under so very ! trying circumstances. Master Stewart says that he looked at bis watch just before the boat capsized and saw that it was 11.10 a.m. He was picked up by the dingy after 12, and must therefore have been ' nearly I An Hour in the Water. ' After landing young Stewart Master ) Parsons informed tho water-police of the . accident, and had to be dissuaded from [ making another search of the harbour to j make certain that Mr Stewart and Master , Pulford might not even then be afloat, , Mr Stewart t^was about 54 yeara ; of age, a resident of Curran-street, Ponj sonby, and proprietor of a grindery above j the Royal Mail Hotel, in Victoriastreet, He was formetly in a very good position in Bathurst, Victoria, where he was a director of the Bendigo Gas I Company. He was also one of the oldest j Freemasons in Auckland, and was highly 3 respected by all who knew him. He leaves I a widow, two sons, and two daughters., whe ' are deeply affected by their bereavement, having been informed of the sad fatalitj 3 when coming home from church. The boal ' which sank under the united weight of th« ' capsized party subsequently floated, and was towed up harbour by the cutter Isabel