BOATING FATALITY

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 86, 13 April 1899, Page 8

BOATING FATALITY

FOUR MEN DROWNED.

WELLINGTON, March 20.

A fatal drowning accident has been repeated here. On Saturday four yojng men named John Darroch, a/ed 20, son of the proprietor of the •Jhib Hotel; Wm. Turner, aged IS, son of the Rev. Mr Turner; Ferdinand Holm, age not stated, son of Captain Holm, of the barque G. M. Tucker; and Cutts, a recent arrival from England, left for Day's Bay, situated opposite the town, to bring back the half-decked yacht Irene, which they had loft there the previous week. Cutts thought the boat unseaworthy, and as a strong northerly wind was blowing, decided to return by the steamer. The others left the bay about half-past five on Saturday afternoon. To-day the overturned yacht was found, and there is no doubt the occupants have been drowned. A dinghy, which was being towed, has not yet been discovered, but it i.s thought unlikely the youths could have reached shore in it. The. Irene was last seen at 6 o'clock on Saturday evening, and some people say there were four men in her. The boat was found capsized by some yachtsmen, and Darroch's watch in the locker had stopped at 7.4 p.m. Search was made without avail, and the beaches are being patrolled. There can be little hope of the young fellows' safety. A heavy northerly gale was blowing at the time and a rough sea in the harbour, and the dinghy attached to the yacht could scarcely have lived in it.