LOST OVERBOARD

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 144, 15 December 1913, Page 8

LOST OVERBOARD

YACHTING FATALITY IN EVANS BAY The Wellington Cruising Club's yacht race was brought to a sad termination on Saturday afternoon, being marred by a fatality. Victor King, aged about lb years, who lived with his mother at 25, Caroline-street, was lost overboard from the yawl White Heather in Evans Bay. The race started from the Clyde-quay Wharf at 3 p.m., the yachts Kotiri, White Heather, Rona, and Ailsa competing. On board tho White Heather werer — Guy Hoggard, Basil Donne, Jack and Ernest Barnard, George M'Lean, and the deceased. The Ailsa led in tlio race, followed by the Kotiri, White Heather, and Rona, in that order. About 3.30 p.m. the wind was "piping hard" and the White Heather was in the act of rounding up off Shelly Bay, in order to run to the buoy at the end of Evans Bay. Suddenly King, who was on the lee side of the yacht accidentally slipped overboard. Basil Donne followed suit almost immediately afterwards. The rough sea and heavy wind made rescue operations difficulty, especially as the yacht was carrying a largo amount of sail. One of the crew (Hoggard) states that Donne was pulled aboard within about two minutes, and the united efforts of tho party were then directed 1 to an attempt to rescue King. The unfortunate youth was a good swimmer, but he was handicapped through* the rough sea and the fact that he had his clothes on. Ultimately the White Heather went about and came up alongside King. Jack Barnard managed to catch hold of the deceased, but could not keep his grip. A cork mat was thrown to him, but it did not reach him, and ne disappeared from dight. The yacht was brought round again, and cruised in the vicinity for about an hour, without' avail. According to Hoggard, the accident was withessod by those on board the Roua, but when they saw Donne rescued they thought everything was all right! Those on board the White Heather could not manage the yacht owing to the amount of sail ehe was carrying. Search was *»ade by > the police for the body on the shores'* of Evans' Bay* and continued to-day, but latest advice was that it had not been found. King was a popular boy. Three yearn ago ho left the Wellington Technical School to> take up, a position in. the City Council's, offices. The pepnants on the yachts at the Boat Harbour were flown at halfmast yesterday, out of respect for his memory.