THREE DROWNED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 97, 27 April 1931, Page 7

THREE DROWNED.

WELLINGTON TRAGEDY. SMALL FISHING BOAT LOST. STORY TOLD BY SURVIVOR. ■WRECKED ON SUBMERGED ROCK. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, Sunday. While returning to Breaker Bay this afternoon from a fishing excursion on the southern side of tie harbour, two men and a young boy ware drowned close to the reef opposite Breaker Bay, near the entrance to the harbour. They were:— Mr. George Williams, of Breaker Bay, aged 29, who leaves a wife and three children. Mr. Jack Petifer, of Breaker Bay, a married man, a«ed S3, employed at the Branda Qu:irry, Breaker Bay. Bobby Parker, of SI, Webb Street, aged 14 The only survivor is Mr. Francis McPherson. of Maupuia Road, Miramar, a married man. The party 101 l breaker Bay in a lGft rowing boat about niri3 o'clock this morning to go across the harbour for fishing at Fitzroy Bay. They had gone out frequently before and the boy was a regular member of the crew. They were not very successful this morning after they had arrived at Fitzroy Bay, and left there about 2 p.m., rather earlier than usual. Drawn Towards Reef. On the return journey there was a light swell running. They rowed across the entrance to the harbour and were • getting nearer Breaker Bay and Barrett's Reef, which is some distance out from the shore, when the boat became too close to the reef for safety. They attempted to stand clear arid thought they had succeeded in doing so, when'they were caught suddenly by two big waves and swung towai'd the reef. Before they reached it, the boat struck a submerged rock, which smashed it considerably and threw all four into the water. Mr. McPherson, the survivor, speaking shortly after his rescue, gave an account of what happened after they had been thrown into the water. Survivor Picked Up"l came up to the surface twice and managed to get rid of my gumboots," he said. "We were all wearing them when the boat was smashed up. I saw Petifer trying to climb up on the,rock and I tried to make for it, too, but when I got to it Petifer was not thereI never saw him again. "The boy Bobby Parker had been calling for "assistance, but the currents and the swell were too strong for anyone to reach him. I did not see George Williams at all after the boat had capsized. "After a while I got into some smoother water and stayed there until I was picked up." Mr. McPherson managed to call out and attract the attention of another boat, also returning from a fishing trjp. He was rescued, and then a search was made for the others without success.

The bodies have not been recovered,