THREE PERISH.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 96, 26 April 1933, Page 5

THREE PERISH.

YACHT TRAGEDY. i MIZPAH WRECKED. ON HAWKE'S BAY COAST. SOLE SURVIVOR TELES STORY. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) NAPIER, this day. Stark tragedy overtook the keel yacht Jlizpah, which left Auckland on Wednesday afternoon last for Wellington. Early yesterday morning a howling southerly gale hurled the little craft ashore near Porangahan, a few miles north of Cape Turnagain, and three of the crew of four, all Aucklanders, lost their lives. Details are:— LOST. Mr. Jack Hurrell, 22, single, of Beresford Street, Bay&water. Until a few weeks ago he lived at Mokai, near Putaruru. He was washed ashore in the surf, but collapsed from, exhaustion and exposure. It is believed that it was his body that was found among the sandhills some distance away from the scene of the wreck. Mr. James P. Kelleway, about 28, single, of Blockhouse Bay, Avondale. He was well known as owner of the 32ft launch Wainui, and had been employed by Henry Berry and Company Proprietary, Ltd. His body has not yet been found. Mr. Thomas Neville Naylor, 22, single, of 4, Hillside Terrace, Mount Albert. Until recently he was employed by Ross and Glendining, Ltd. His body has not yet been found. SAVED. Mr. Clifford C. Harris, 29, single, of Oaklands Road, Mount Eden. Tempestuous Weather. The Mizpah, 28ft overall, was sold recently by Mr. W. A. Lee, of Auckland, to Mr. T. McCauley, of Wellington, and sailed from Auckland for Wellington last Wednesday. She enjoyed a fair passage as far as Mahia Peninsula, but encountered heavy offshore weather across Hawke's Bay. The conditions became increasingly difficult as Cape Kidnappers was rounded. On Monday afternoon several settlers saw the yacht battling across the bay between Blackhead and Cape Turnagain. The cape was reached early on Monday evening, hut a howling southerly : gale, which soon increased almost to hurricane force, stopped all headway. The yacht was then hove-to, and a sea anchor put out, but the elements were too strong, and slowly the yacht was driven northwards and inshore. The crew were powerless to do anything, and between two and three o'clock yesterday morning the yacht was caught in the breakers. The first sea deft her full ol water, and in a few minutes she overturned and was smashed to pieces in the broiling surf. Caught in Breakers. At the time that the yacht was caught in the breakers Messrs. Harris, Kelleway and Naylor were down below handing out ballast. In a few seconds the yacht was over and the crew were thrown into the sea. A butter box helped Mr. Harris to keep afloat until a breaking wave hurled him into shallow water and allowed him to struggle to the beach. Clad only in a singlet and two flannel shirts, he set off to wander across the sand dunes, and by following the telegraph line, which *he picked up two miles inland, eventually stumbled upon a house occupied by Mrs. T. Parker. After Mr. Harris had been given attention, Mrs. Parker communicated with Mr. Percy Hunter, whose station at Flax Flat is about four miles away. Fearing the worst, Mr. Hunter and four of his men immediately went out to search the beach. The help of other settlers was enlisted, and soon over 20 men. were combing the sea coast. Any hopes that the three other members of the crew might also have succeeded in reaching the shore in safety were dashed at 8 a.m., when Messrs. R, Franklin and H. Mills came across a body among the sandhills, a considerable distance from the shore. From a description given by Mr. Harris, it was believed that the body was that of Mr. Hurrell. Wandered Over Dunes. The body found in the sandhills was stripped of all clothing. Apparently the young man had been badly buffeted in reaching the shore, but had staggered across the sand dunes in the hope of bringing help. He had wandered for about three miles, and his body was found less than two miles from Mr. Hunter's homestead. Footprints in the sand showed that he had retraced his steps for a short distance, presumably in an endeavour to avoid patches of marshy ground. He appeared to have died from fatigue and exposure about six o'clock. A welt across his stomach indicated that he had been struck a severe blow either when the yacht first got among the breakers or when he was fighting in the surf. Later in the morning the searchers from the station were joined by police, and a watch was kept on the beach throughout the day, but without result. A large quantity of wreckage was washed ashore, and also a coat and a felt hat, on the band of which was the name, "L. Naylor." "I Gave Myself Up." The survival of Mr. Harris is a story of the triumph of uncommon vitality and fortitude. "Wo were not sure of the. boat's position," he said. "A high wave came aboard, and we began to straighten things out. With the exception .of Jack (Hun-ell), who was at the pump, we were all in the cabin. T another big wave got us. It turned the boat over, and tore away the cabin top. I did not see any of the others, and gave myself up for lost. I came to the surface and then went down again. I came up a second time and belched a lot of water, and then felt better. I next caught hold of a butter box. I lost it for a second, but got it again and held on. My feet got cold—all of a sudden. Another big wave came over, and 1 touched what I thought was I did not know whether I was imagining things, but then another wave took me forward and I felt hard ground. "When I got ashore I looked about for the others for a bit, but I did pot see them," added Mr. Harris. "I th<M set off inland, and when I found a linf; ♦f telephone poles I followed them until I reached this house." Mr. Harris, who will probably have tfc> remain in bed until to-morrow, said Miat probably the other members of the *rew were injured, possibly knocked un-j ftonscious, when the cabin tog ?as| •Jpped c&." ._ "_..* i