BOATING TRAGEDY

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 103, 29 October 1923, Page 2

BOATING TRAGEDY

IN TAURANGA HARBOUR

FOUR LIVES LOST

ALL FROM ONE FAMILY.

FBI IEUGRAPH.— PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

TAURANGA, 28th October.

The worst tragedy recorded at Tauranga Harbour occurred on Saturday afternoon, at about 6 o'clock, in the vicinity of Mount Maunganui, just inside the harbour entrance, _and about three miles from, the town of Tauranga, resulting in" the loss of the lives-of four children of one family. Early in the afternoon the seven children of Mr. John Miller, a local plumber, rowed down the harbour to' Mount Maunganui in a twelve-foot"""dinghy. Their names were: Fred, aged 24Pimella, 20; Bruce, 17; "Arnold, 12; Linea, 11; Hubert, 8; and Melvin, 6. The afternoon was spent on the beach, and a start was made for home just after half-past 5. • ' . A fresh westerly breeze was blowing with a choppy sea. When about five hundred yards from the shore the, dinghy rolled and shipped a sea that half-filled the boat. She immediately shipped more water and sank. The children all grasped the boat, but unfortunately all on one side, and she rolled over. This was repeated several times until only Fred was left clinging to the boat None -could swim^ to speak of except Bruce, who was a good swimmer, but was the only one with boots on. He" helped two of his small brothers, back, to the boat several times. It seems that after losing their hold of the boat all the children drifted apart. Fred, who was still clinging to the boat, saw .his little sister Linea trying to swim. He called out to her to float and gave his brother Arnold the same advice. Both, with wonderful presence of mind, turned on their hackstand'floated; they were then about a chain apart, but drifted together, and, interlockinfr one another s arms, they continued floating. Both were wearing oilskin coats, which apparently saved: their lives. Linea says she saw her eldest sister ±"imella, who was unable to swim, holding up the two youngest boyp. \ Bruce who was a strong swimmer, and had a medal for swimming from Auckland to Northcote when about 12 years of age, was not seen again!' No one witnessed the accident, but ifred. attracted the attention of Mr. Jeffares, railway stationmaster, who rushed to the beach and saw Fred near the w°2? °™ the keel of the "Pturned boat. With Mr. Lindell, Public Works shop foreman, he waded out and assisted him ashore. He was well spent after about half an hour in the water, and driftine half a mile. ■••...... s , Meantime Messrs. Isherwood and Nathan pushed a boat off the beach and endeavoured,without oars to reach Linea and Arnold, whom they saw floating together about two chains off the beach. Fortunately, they picked up the floating oars from the'upturned boat, and rescued the two children, whp, although then conscious, remembered nothing further till a couple of hours later., Mr. Lindell and others meantime righted the Millers' boat and went in search of the others. A few chains from the shore they . saw,, another, body, which proved, to'he'that of the youngest boy (Melvm), floating face down. He was immediately got ashore and respiration was tried without avail for two hours. Constables Skijmer and Clifford, with Dr. Catell, proceeded to ilauiiganui as sooiv as they were advised cf the* accident, and brought the body to town. , The beach was-patrolled 'all night, "and dragging was continued to-day, but the bodies of Pimella, Bruce, and Hubert have not yet been recovered.