SIX DROWNED.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 268, 12 November 1928, Page 8

SIX DROWNED.

YACHTING TRAGEDY.

SOLE SURVIVOR'S STORY.

SAVED WHEN AT LAST GASP.

ROPE FLUNG FROM STEAMER

GALLANT EFFORT BY BANDSMAN.

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.)

DUNEDIN, this day.

Six men were drowned in the harbour when a yacht capsized soon after noon yesterday. Their names are:— James Jeffrey, aged 55 years. Alexander Jeffrey, aged 20 years, son of James Jeffrey. Robert Jeffrey, aged 19, also a son of James Jeffrey. Archibald Bell, aged 24 years. James Bell, aged 20 years. Sidney Alexander Harbourne, aged 21 years. One man, Victor Duell, was saved. James Jeffrey was an expert yachtsman, with many years of experience in sailing ships in the West of Scotland, and it was his yacht, the Duke, which capsized. It was beating up the narrow channel which divides Quarantine Island from the mainland, when a heavy squall struck it without warning, and it capsized. Victor Duell described what happened: "We were just off the island when a sudden squall caught us, and the boat went over, but Jeffrey handled her well and she righted herself. We sailed into the jetty on the jib. Before we left the island on our return Jeffrey put a reef in the I was surprised, but Jeffrey said this had been done for safety's sake. "A gust of wind caught us when we were halfway through the channel. The sails were flapping, and we had to make our way very carefully. Suddenly the wind changed, the boat went over, and did not right herself. "Alex, was hanging on and calling, 'Bob, where are you?' and Archie, who was a good swimmer, was calling Where's Jim?'

'■'Bob and Jim could not swim, and I don't think Jeffrey was a swimmer, although he had been sailing boats all his life. "Waves Dashing Over Us." "I caught hold of the boat, and saw someone in the water. I pulled him towards me, but the waves were dashing over us, and we went under again. "When I rose again I saw Archie making for the shore. He was floating on his back. I could not see Paddy and Bob. "Four of lis were hanging to the boat when she went under again, and this time she rose keel up. I swam to her again, and got astride of her. Alex, climbed on in front, and Jeffrey was behind. Jimmy, after a struggle, secured a grip on the boat, but another wave washed us all off her again. We were struggling in the water, and somebody had his arm round my neck. "When we rose to the surface 4 saw the ferry coming round the bend. I looked for Archie, who seemed to be only a few yards from the shore. "I clung to the boat, and saw that Jeffrey and Alex, were still holding on. Then the ferry came up to us, and something seemed to pull us under water. I sank, and began to struggle, and then I saw a rope. I held on, and somebody pulled me on board. We seemed to have gone right under the ferry. "I did not see Bob or Paddy from the time we first went under, and Archie apparently reached within a few yards of the shore and sank. I was wearing a tight-fitting jersey, but all the others were wearing overcoats, and Jim had a pair of oilskin leggings. "We all had the greatest confidence in Jeffrey, and did not have any fear about making the return trip. We must have been in the water for 15 or 20 minutes. Seen From Ferry Steamer. The ferry Bteamer which rescued Dueli was the Waireka, which had on board the West Harbour Band. It was one of the bandsmen, Robert Grubb, who first noticed the capsized yacht. There were then three men clinging to it — James Jeffrey, Alexander Jeffrey and Duell—and there was another in the water about 60 feet away, but he soon disappeared. The heavy head wind made it difficult to handle the ship, but the captain manoeuvred her alongside the upturned yacht. James Jeffrey and Duell were seen struggling in the water. The crowd on the ferry steamer became excited, and some passengers rushed about blindly, interfering with the work of the rescuers. A lifebelt and some life jackets were thrown overboard .aqd the lifeboat launched, but it could make no headway against the wind. A rope was thrown to Duell, who caught it and was hauled, on board. One of the bandsmen, Mr. Stanley Grubb, removed his coat and boots and pluckily dived overboard and swam to where James Jeffrey was still struggling. He reached him and supported him in the water until he reached a dinghy, which was rowed by Mr. Wiseman. Jeffrey was unconscious when he and Grubb were pulled on board the ferry, and although everything possible was done for him he died without having regained consciousness. The passengers supplied Duell and Grubb with clothing. Both were in greai distress after their immersion. The six men who were drowned came from the Old Country, the Jeffreys and the Bells being cousins. James Jeffrey was employed as gardener at the residence of the late Sir John Ross, but was a fisTierman in the Old Country and an experienced yachtsman. Harbourne had been in New Zealand eight years. Archibald Bell four, and James Bell three.