LOSS OF YACHT “SIREN”

Grey River Argus, 4 October 1945, Page 5

LOSS OF YACHT “SIREN”

BODY STILL MISSING. P.A. WELLINGTON, Oct. 3 The victims of the wreck of the yacht, "Siren”, who intended sailing to Tahiti, Haywood and Zimmerman recently returned to New Zealand after four years’ service overseas with the Army Service Corps. The yacht was bought with their deferred payl The first port of call en route to Tahiti was to be Auckland, where Haywood intended to obtain new headsails. The “Siren” was a 39 ft yawl drawing 71ft., with an Bft.. beam. She was built in 1898 and had a triple skin. She was overhauled and the cabin top’ altered before the crew set out. LATER. , No trace has yet been found of L. F. Zimmerman, missing member of the crew of the yacht “Siren,” which was wrecked near Cape Palliser early yesterday morning. The body of Fred Haywood was taken to Martinborough yesterday. An 'inquest was opened and adjourned to-day, after evidence of ider,tification had been given. The only survivor, Jack Hale, was none the worse to-day for his experience. To-night he is returning to Wellington. In a strong southerly gale and heavy driving rain, searchers continued to patrol the rock-bound coast near Cape Palliser to-day. Up to nightfall, there had been no sign of Zimmerman’s body. It is thought he may have been drowned in deep water which, in this locality, is close in shore. The body of a man swept off the rocks in this vicinity some years ago was never washed un. Search operations have been severely hampered by flooded rivers and gigantic seas. A police party from Wellington was unable to get within 30 miles of the Cape to-day because several rivers were too high to ford. Men from , Palliser Bay sheep sta-

tions were out all day and were assisted by men from the lighthouse. There is very little beach on the coast, and the work of searching slippery rocks, which are pounded by huge waves, has been extremely dangerous. More wreckage was washed ashore to-day. So far it has consisted of mobile fittings. No large pieces of the boat, itself have yet come in, and it is thought the wreck is in deep water.