DINGHY SWAMPED

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 173, 10 April 1923, Page 6

DINGHY SWAMPED

TWO MEN DROWNED SURVIVOR’S EXHAUSTING SWIM BY TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION.

Auckland, April 9. Hairy Bowater, ono of th© two men who lost their lives when a dinghy was swamped in Alankau Harbour during a heavy gale, was a married man with three children, the eldest of whom is twleve years of age. He was a boiler-maker employed at tho Newmarket workshops. Frank Barnes, the other man drowned, was unmarried, and resided with his parents at New Lynn. He was a bricklayer’s labourer.

The launch was anchored about half a mile off Leo’s Bay. At 1 o’clock six of the party went ashore to boil water for lunch. The intention was to bring the launch closer inshore and ferry tho rest of the party to tho boach. Two of the occupants of the dinghy, George Burrows and Charles Wilson, were put ashore, and the others sot out to row off to the launch. About half-way out the dinghy shipped a heavy sea. As there seemed a likelihood of it swamping, an attempt was made to turn back to shore. The boat quickly filled, and the occupants wore thrown into the water. There was no sign that the mishap had been from the launch, and not being able to attract attention, W. Burrows and Chalmers commenced to swim towards the shore. Bowater could not swim and quickly disappeared. Barnes was seen to strike out for the shore. After an exhausting swim Burrows reached ths rocks and’ was presently able to assist Chalmers ashore. A search was made, but th<*-e was no sign of either Bowater or Barnes.

MAN DROWNED NEAR ROTORUA BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION. Rotorua, April 9. At 11.30 a.m. on Sunday, OscaY Hughes and Len Weils, belonging to a Government survey party were crossing Lake Rerewhakaitu, twenty miles from Rotorua, when their boat was swamped. Hughes managed to get ashore, but’Wells was drowned. Deceased was a single man, twentyfive years of age. and belonged to Coromandel. The body has not been recovered.