YACHT WRECKED

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 198, 22 August 1930, Page 7

YACHT WRECKED

CHANNEL GALE,

SEVEN LIVES LOST.

British M.P., Daughter and

Friends Perish.

VAIN RESCUE ATTEMPTS

(British Official Wireless.)

(Received 12 noon.)

RUGBY, August 21

Commodore King, a member of Parliament for South Paddington, tfho' had held a number of posts in the Conservative Government, has perished in the yachting disaster off the coast of Cornwall. He chartered tho yacht Islander for a fcolidav cruise, and aboard with him were one of his daughters, Commander Searle, of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, Surgeon Captain Brailey, medical officer of His Majesty's ship President, Captain Glazebrook, skipper, and two deck hands. A was raging and night was falling when the yacht was driven on the rocks in Lanlivet Bay, near Polperro. The Fowev lifeboat went out Jbut could not approach the vessel. A life line was fired over the yacht. Two men aboard were seen desperately hanging on to the life line but it gave way in terrific seas. A tidal wave caught the vessel and altered its position, flinging it against the rocks.

One man "was seen to dive from the yacht and begin to swim to the shore lmt he disappeared under the water. The Fowey lifeboat strove for two hours to get near the yacht, but the heavy seas ami dangerous rocks proved too formidable. The yacht was pounded to destruction and all aboard were drowned. Commodore King was one of the most versatile men in the Conservative party andwas regarded as destined to hold a high place in some future Conservative administration. He was 53 and still young as politicians go. He had been a Junior Lord of the Treasury, Financial Secretary to the War Office, and in the last Conservative administration was in charge of the Mines Department. Before he entered upon his Parliamentary career he took part in the defence of Antwerp, served in the Gallipoli campaign and was with.the Royal Xaval siege guns in Flanders.