SAD BOATING DISASTER.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 42, 19 February 1900, Page 4

SAD BOATING DISASTER.

TWO LIVES LOST,

One of those terrible boating accidents which .from, time to .time occur in Sydney Harbour happened on Simday, February 4. when,, through, the capsizing, between the Heads, of ,tui 18ft sailing boat, five' people were thrown into the water, ami two of that number drowned. Their names are:—Mrs Leigh, ag-ed about 40 years,lately residing at Manly, who leaves two young daughters at present at school in Woilongqng. Charles : Bell, aged 35 years, hairdresser, employed by Air A. Ctithill, Cor'so, Manly, who leaves a., wife and four children, the eldest eight years of age. The survivors were Mr R. Leigh (whose wife was lost), conveyancer. Bridge-street:; .Mr Fred, ltiley, of Wagga Wag°\-.:. and hi's sister, Miss itney/seamstress. The male members started from Manly shortly after 2 o'clock., and, calling at the jetty to take on board tlie ladies, proceeded, with a fair northeast wind behind, down the harbour to. Bradley's Head. Erom this point a start was made a 'few minutes before 4 o'clock on the return journey, and all. went well to the passing of the Lightship,' at South Beef. The choppy state of the sea caught the boa in a slant, the 18-footer "dived" and almost immediately capsized. The occupants were Hung into the' water, and at once a heart-rending battle for life commenced. After turning turtle the boat drifted with the wind a few yards, and this had the effect of further dismaying the terrified strugglers. To cap their, dire misery Miss Riley, who gamely fought her way alongside Mrs Leigh to the overturned boat, cried out "a shark," and all heads were turned to witness the spectacle of a 12ft monster idly cruising in the neighbourhood of* the unfortunates. When the gruesome brute disappeared from view, the horror deepened in inteii- ■ sity, and there is no doubt that its presence had the effect Of frightening Bell'and Mrs Leigh into a state .of. helplessness, a surmise- which gains support from the fact that the two victims were both good swimmers ami should have been able to reach their goal, as the others did, in safety. However, the melancholy experience proved overcoming, and almost m silence they disappeared beneath the waves. Mr Leigh told the reporter that his wife went down "like a shot,"' and Bell vanished just as quickly. The remaining trio, the Bileys (brother and sister) and Mr Leigh, were able, with comparative ease, to reach the capsized craft, and there they clung- until rescued.