FISHING TRAGEDY

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 72, 26 March 1931, Page 14

FISHING TRAGEDY

ISLAND BAY VICTIMS

CAPSIZED LAUNCH

INQUEST OPENED

All hope of' recovering tho bodies having been abandoned, tho Coroner, Mr. I. Salek, J.P., opened an inquest at tho Magistrate's Court this afternoon into tho deaths of Captain Alexander M'Phcrson Stuart, aged 54, and Robert Rowland CoppacU, aged 30, who were swept overboard when the launch Islander capsized in the Terawhiti "rip" early on the- morning of Sth February. The inquest also concerns the death of Harry Nieol Stuart, aged 21, who fell into tho sea and was lost when, the launch righted itself some hours later. Mr. H. Arndt appeared for tho relatives of the late Captain Stuart, and Captain*Keano for tho Marino Department. Alexander MThorson Stuart, aged 17, son of the skipper of the Islander, said they left tho moorings at Island Bay to go fishing near Tho Brothers at 1 a.m. on Sth February. On leaving the Bay witness went below and slept while his 'father remained at the wheel with Mr. Coppaek. His brother Harry was attending to the engines. Witness was asleep at the time of the- accident, so he did not knw what really happened. He thought, however, that the boat ran into a big wave and capsized. "I woke up as the boat was going over, and I was imprisoned in the cabin," continued the witness. "Harry spoke to me a number of times, and some timo later we heard a launch coming. It was dark when we turned over, and the launch slowly righted itself somewhero about 7.30 a.m." Witness did not actually sec his brother after leaving Island Bay. When tho launch righted itself witness came through tho hatch, and was taken on board the Nornn. In reply to the Coroner. Mr. Stuart said that there was no sea when they left Island Bay, only a little swell by the island. He could not say what the sea was like when the accident occurred, as he was down below. The launch was 4.oft long, and was fitted with an 18 h.p. engine. Witness had been out in the launch in bad southerly weather, and it had been quite all right. Questioned by Captain Keane. witness said that they had taken some ballast out of the launch when it was on the beach for repairs about a year ago. His father said at, that time there was no need to put all the ballast back, as the boat was too heavy in the water. When the boat capsized she was carrying about 12cwfc of ballast, HARRY STUART'S FALL. Andrew Tait. owner of the launch Norma, said he left Island Bay at about 5 a.m. to go fishing. When about an hour out he saw the launch floating bottom upwards in the vicinity of Sinclair Head and Karori Bock,. There was a fair sea running, with a good swell. Ho steered as close as possible to the upturned boat, and heard someone knocking. After launching a dinghy .and leaving one of his crew, William Tait, to watch the Islander, witness returned to Island Bay for assistance. When he came back the launch righted itself and Harry Stuart came up from below. "No sooner had bo come to the deck than ho went into tho sea. I endeavoured to catch him with a hook on a 15ft pole, but was not successful. I did not see him again. There was then a strong current running, and only an exceptionally strong swimmer would have a chance of reaching tho shore. In witness's opinion the bodies of any persons lost' off the Islander would have been carried into the Tasman Sea and tho chances of recovering them would be very remote. Cross-examined by Captain Kcane, witness said that his launch, the Norma, a much bigger boat than the Islander, carried from 7 to 9 tons of ballast. Not having had any experience in sailing the Islander ho was unable to say whether she was carrying enough ballast. (Proceeding.)