DARING VENTURE FAILS

Evening Star, Issue 21634, 1 February 1934, Page 8

DARING VENTURE FAILS

STRAIT RASH ENDS IN TRAGEDY SPEEDBOAT CAPSIZES—OWNER DIES [Per United'Press Association.] WELLINGTON, February 1. An attempt by two men in a high-speed motor boat to make the fifty-mile dash from Wellington to Picton yesterday evening ended tragically, resulting in the death of H. Clarke, of Wellington, the owner of the boat. With Mr Clarke in the boat was Mr F. W. Barrett-Wood, of Melbourne, a member of the Royal Brighton Yachting Club. The Elto left Wellington at 5.15 yesterday afternoon, and all went well until a mishap off Cape Terawhiti caused the craft to capsize shortly after 7 o’clock. At 10.25 p.m. the steamer Kiwitea, en route to Wellington, heard cries from an overturned boat, which by theg had drifted toward The Brothers. Fifteen minutes later the men were taken aboard the steamer, but Mr Clarke died later. Mr Wopd was in an extremely exhausted condition. He had supported Mr Clarke in the water for three hours. ~ , , The Elto is a light craft, said to.be capable of a speed of up to fifty miles an hour. . ANOTHER BRAT IN RAGE ENGINE DEFECT COMPELS WITHDRAWAL [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, February 1. It had been estimated that the crossing "would take from about an hour and a-quarter to an hour and twenty minutes. From the Wellington side the weather conditions appeared very favourable, and the trip was expected to be made speedily and smoothly, and to set up a new record for a Cook Strait crossing. When news of the nonappearance of the boat, after several lipurs’ delay, was communicated Uf Wellington, extensive inquiries were made without any results, until a radio message from the Kiwitea was received. A competitive touch to the venture was given by the fact that a similar outboard 'boat, driven by Mr Alan Woodman, commodore of the Wellington Outboard Club, was to have accompanied th© Elto, Th© two boats left at the same time, but, before the Heads were reached, the engine on, Mr Woodman’s craft developed a defect, and he had to return. Mr Woodman had intended to make a return trip after reaching Picton. . „ Mr Barrett-Wood arrived in New Zealand recently on his way to. Australia after two years’ absence, having visited Britain and the United States.