CANOE CAPSIZED

Greymouth Evening Star, 29 August 1932, Page 5

CANOE CAPSIZED

WELLINGTON MAN DROWNED.

[PEB PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

WELLINGTON, August 28.

When a canoe was overturned in Evans Bay by a high wind late on Saturday, William Joseph Blacklidge, aged 21, a hawker, was thrown into the water and drowned. The canoe and paddles were found late at night, but the body has not yet been recovered.

Blacklidge Bbught the cano’e, a 16foot canvas one, two days earlier. His brothers, Stanley Blacklidge, aged 13, and Maurice Bennett Blacklidge, aged 17, had been with him during the afternoon, but they remained on shore when the eldest boy went out. A strong wind was blowing. Although it was comparatively safe near the Patent Slip, it was dangerous further out.

Blacklidge ventured about 200 yards from the shore. A strong gust caught the canoe, and over-turned it. His brother Maurice, stripped and dived to the rescue, making a gallant attempt but he was unable to last out. He was himself rescued just in time by a rope thrown from a jetty. Two men also went to the rescue, and swam ovei’ the spot where the canoe overturned. They saw no sign of Blacklidge.

A police patrol at 10.30 p.m. discovered the canoe and the paddles washed up at the south end of Evans Bay. The patrol continued all night, though the search was unavailing.