LATEST PAETICULAES. Dunedin, This Day.

Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 59, 7 September 1885, Page 2

LATEST PAETICULAES. Dunedin, This Day.

Between 9 and 10 yesterday forenoon Captain James Ferguson, the local agent pf the Union Company, accompanied by his six ohildren and Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Jaokson and their two children, took a waterman's boat at Port Chalmers for tho purpose of paying a visit to Mrs. Jaokson, sen., the grandmother of the whole of the ohildren. The party prooeeded down the harbour under sail, and after rounding Aoheron Head the weather beoame exceedingly squally, the wind veering from N.W. to 8.W., and blowing fresh. The sail was wrapped round the mast prior to the most being unshipped, when a sudden gust struck the boat, causing her to heel over and precipitate the whole of the occupants into the water. The ohildren were plaoed on the bottom of the boat, but she again rolled over, and the children were thrown into the water, with the result that four of Capt. Ferguson's ohildren, named Mary, John, James, and Alexander, and Christina Jaokson were drowned. Several fishermen living in the bay ; seeing the aooident, put off without loss of time, and suoeeded in saving Maggie and Agnes Fergnson, Mrs. Jaokson and her daughter Catherine, with Captain Fergnson and Mr. Jaokson. They aleo reoovered the bodies of John and Mary Ferguson. Captain Ferguson ia greatly exhausted, and almost prostrate with grief at the aooident, whioh is a severe blow to him, following, as it does, olosely upon the death of his wife.