RANGITOTO TRAGEDY.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 34, 10 February 1928, Page 10

RANGITOTO TRAGEDY.

HOLDING OF INQUIRY.

.MEN DECLARED TO BE DROWNED,

An inquiry into the death of William Williams and Albeit Thomas Bowman, the two men who were lost in the Rangitoto Channel on November 19, was held before the coroner, Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., yesterday.

The inquiry was ordered by the Minister of Marine, under Section 237 of the Shipping and Seamen Act. It was thus equivalent to an ordinary inquest. Sergeant Brown, of Devonport, conducted the inquiry on behalf of the police. Captain Atwood, Superintendent of Marine, appeared for the Department, and Mr. Inder for the relatives of Bowman. *

Stanley John Eastdown, the survivor of the tragedy, stated that on the afternoon of November 19 .he met Williams on the Devonport ferry. Williams was very eager to go out that afternoon nshing and shooting at Islington Rav. He pressed witness to go with him They later saw Bowman at Milford, and he asked if he could go. At four o'clock the-three men stjarted out for Islington « ,^ C , la J} ou a I'ttle," said witness, oyer to Rangitoto Island, and we were being carried towards Tiri Tiri. Williams changed the course of the boat, and it filled from the Bird Island side. We were then forced into the water. Williams cut the anchor loose and pulled out the mast and we righted the boat. We decided it was no use hanging on to the boat, so after helping one another off with our clothing ,we made for Rangitoto. Williams was jtftt at the back of me. The sea was rough, so we parted. I heard William sing out, "Ara you all right, Stan. That is the last I saw or heard of he or Bowman."

Cross-examined, witness 6aid the boat had been borrowed by Williams. It was a small' boat, and had a centreboard, but this was not fitted. Williams had the tiller all the t ; - e.

Evidence tin. c the bodies had been searched for and not found was given by Sergeant Brown. The finding of the Court was that both men were Irowned in the Hauraki Gulf on November 19 last, through the boat they were in accidentally capsizing. Both men were covered by the "Star" insurance scheme.