SWAMPED.

Feilding Star, Volume IV, Issue 1134, 15 March 1910, Page 4

SWAMPED.

THREE MEN IN A BOAT

LOSE THEIR LIVES

PER PRESS ASSOCIATION. Greymouth, March 14. A distressing boating fatality occurred last night whereby three single men—•William Winterburn (formerly of Christehuroh), John Carley (of Hokitika), ,;uid John de Bather (of Ross) —were drowned. They were crossing the Grey bar in a ■motorlaunch. Becoming alarmed at the high rollers >nt sea, they turned around to make port. In doing so, one roller caught tiheir vessel by the stern and placed her broadside on to the next breaker, •which swamped the launch. It immediately sank. One man disappeared in an instant, whilst the two others clung to an oar. One of them shortly after let"go, bu the other clung on, and drifted to sea, where he was seen Tor nearly three-quarters of an hour; but no assistance could be rendered. The tug took two hours to get up steam, and went out then, but could find no trace of the man, .who liad evidently been drowned. The launch was washed up on the beach, buf'there are no signs of the bodies. A heavy northerly gale was"blowing along the coast to-day.