TOLL OF THE SEA

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 291, 4 September 1931, Page 11

TOLL OF THE SEA

Eleven Lives Lost CHATHAMS TRAGEDY Worst in Islands History Details of the fishing launch disaster in which eleven men lost their lives at the Chatham Islands seven weeks ago were gleaned from Captain Andrew Dowell, of the steamer Tees, which arrived in Wellington last night “It is the biggest disaster within the memory of white men at the Chatham Islands,” said Captain Dowell to a representative of “The Dominion.” “The whole community is in mourning. It is terrible that such a fine lot of men should be lost They were the pick of the islands. The three Thompsons were brothers, as were also the two Paynters. William Paynter leaves a widow, a little boy and an infant daugnter, the latter having been born three weeks after the father was drowned. Mr. and Mrs. Robert Paynter, very old residents of the Chathams, have now lost six of their nine children, the survivors being two daughters and a boy of seven. The boy for days after the disaster was continually asking when his brothers Bill and Joe were coming back, and at last the brokenhearted parents had to tell him that they would never come back. “Ririmu Wiki, the other married man of the lost party, was a Maori with a large family, which included several foster children, he being a big-hearted man,” said Captain Dowell. “Ashton and Stone were near relatives. Taaka Ngain, another member of the party, belonged to Taranaki,«but had lived at the Chathams for some years.” The Lost Men. The names of the lost men, who were all fishermen of Kaingaroa, were:—William Paynter, married; Ririmu Wiki, married ; Joseph Paynter, Edward Thompson, Michael Thompson, Waiti Thompson. Bishon Ashton, James Whaitiri, B. Remi, H. Stone, Taaka Ngaia. The party left Kaingaroa on Friday. July 17. for Owenga, 24 miles distant, to play in the annual football match. Two hours after they left a heavy gale sprang up and continued with unabated force throughout the weekend and for several days afterwards. Until the remainder of the team arrived overland at Owenga on the Saturday «it was not known that the launch was overdue.

Mr. Robert Paynter told Captain Dowell that when the launch left Kaingaroa, which is a bay at the north-east corner of the main island, the weather was “not so bad.” He saw the launch pass out of sight round-Munning Point, some three or four miles distant, about 1 p.m. Shortly after a terrific squall came up from the westward, “as black as Ink,” and by 3 o’clock it was blowing a hard gale and a verv heavv sea was running. The launch Te Aroha was a good, stout fishing vessel 36 feet in length, and all on board were experienced fishermen. When the storm burst those at Kaingaroa felt no undue anxiety, as it was thought that by that time the launch would be well round under the lee of the land. When it was finally learned that ths launch had not reached Owenga and had not been seen anywhere along the coast, there was naturally very grave anxiety. The storm lasted several days, making it quite impossible for any of the willing volunteers to put to sea in search of the missing' boat. Wreckage Washed Up. Finally definite signs of the disaster came, when wreckage identified as coming from the Te Aroha was washed ashore at widely-separated parts of the islands. Some was found at Munning Point and along the north coast of the island; some at Pitt Island, well to the southward, while the boat’s two masts were picked up in Waitangi Bay on the west side of the main island. Not a sign of any of the bodies of the missing men has been seen. x * Captain Dowell says the islanders are agreed that the launch was overwhelmed in the heavy seas and tide rips not far from Munning Point, This is a very dangerous part of the coast in bad weather, Captain Dowell describing the seas and tide rips encountered there as being far worse than those of Cook Strait. Captain Dowell has had eleven years’ experience in the Chatham Islands trade, in which he has How completed 137 voyages. '