COLLISION IN DARK.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 120, 23 May 1928, Page 10

COLLISION IN DARK.

SCHOONER AND LAUNCH. OUTSIDE NELSON HAHBOUH. YOUTH OF SEVENTEEN DROWNED. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent) NELSON", Tuesday. The name of the youth who drowned outside the harbour entrance this morning was Lyell Thomas William Galey. He was 17 years of age, and * son of Mr. George Galey, of Washington Valley. The launch Valmai left Nelson about 4 a.m., with a crew of three, Messrs. Thompson, F. Nieholls and Galey. It had just cleared the harbour when the engine stopped. While it was being repaired the auxiliary schooner Te Aroh* collided with the launch.

Mr. Thompson was in the engine room fixing the engine when Mr. Xicholls, fearing that he would be trapped, shouted out to him to come on deck. Mr. Thompson saw at once that a collision was unavoidable. Mr. Xicholls was waving a lantern, but there was no one visible to them on the deck of the scow. All three occupants of the launch jumped to the top of the cabin just before the impact. The schooner struck the launch ateft the engine room and stove her in. The launch turned over toward the schooner, and the crew climbed round her untu they got to the keel The launch, upside down, floated for about 15 minutes, ana when she sank the three men made l2 r , a piece of wooden staging from the boat. In the meantime the schooner was a considerable distance away. Mr. Thompson saw there was no hope for three on the staging, so he left it and swam toward the schooner, which he .eventually reached, having been altogether about half an hour in the water.

The schooner circled round to look for Mr. Nieholls and Galey, who could be heard calling. Eventually Mr. Xicholls was found in a very exhausted condition, but the boy had gone. Until he became exhausted Mr. Xicholls clung to the bov, but had "to let go when his strength failed.

Captain J. E. Stevens, master of the Te Aroha, said he was on the look-out on deck when the accident occurred. It was exceptionally dark, and he could not see anything ahead of the schooner. Suddenly he heard cries and saw the launch alongside sinking. He did not see any lights on the launch until it was alongside the schooner after the collision.