TERRIBLE DISASTER AT TOLOGA BAY.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume I, Issue 3, 14 June 1887, Page 2

TERRIBLE DISASTER AT TOLOGA BAY.

A DOUBLE CALAMITY. TWO BOATS CAPSIZED. SIX LIVES LOST. COURAGEOUS CONDUCT OF MESSRS STAGPOOLE, JAMES, AND GILMAN. LATEST DETAILS. [From our Special Correspondent.] Coming so soon after the recent terrible maritime diasters at Napier and along the Coast, more especially the loss of the Boojurn and the wreck of the Sir Donald, the sad catastrophe which occurred at Tologa Bay on Saturday last has at once aroused the public’s feelings of distress and sympathy. Gisborne streets were lively despite the wet last Saturday night, and numbers of people were doing the block on Gladstone Road after the most approved Saturday night style, when the news was hurriedly spread forth that a terrible loss of life had occurred at the quiet little settlement of Tologa Bay. The telephone, so recently erected, was the medium by which the details of the sad eyent were first received, and in a very short time the affair was town talk. Briefly speaking, the facts were these ; The s.s. Australia, one of the Union Company’s coastal boats, left Gisborne about 8 o’clock on Saturday morning and arrived at Tologa Bay shortly after four in the afternoon. From the telephone messages of our special correspondents we are enabled to place before our readers the following particulars

Monday, 1 p.m. A terrible disaster occurred at Tologa Bay on Saturday last, which has caused the utmost consternation and horror throughout the township and surrounding districts. A large number of persons were assembled here on the occasion of the annual licensing meeting, and on the arrival of the s.s. Australia from Gisborne many of them went down to the beach. The steamer got here about a quarter to five, and there being several passengers to be landed a boat was put off from the beach to tender the steamer. The boat was manned by the following crew :—Harry Glover, the well-known half-caste, and Rawiria Tautau, Harry Hautau and Ropianoa Hatatu. The sea was very fresh in the bay, and the river being flooded, the bar was pretty rough. Nevertheless, the boat got oft to the steamer all safely, and the following passengers taken in—namely : Mrs Kirk, wife of the ferryman and shoemaker here, and her three children, Nellie, 9 years old ; Ralph, 3 years old; and a one month old infant. Nearing the bar the boat was seen to capsize and disappear, whilst the cries of the occupants were distinctly heard by the horrow-struck onlookers on the beach. No time was lost in pulling off a boat which was rowed by Constable Stagpoole, Mr J. James, a bootmaker, a well known resident here, and a half-caste named Samuel Gilman. They got to the scene of the accident all safely and were seen to be assisting the drowning persons in the boat when the boat was suddenly observed to be swamped and its occupants added to those who were already struggling in the water. The excitement on the shore was intense and was increased by the fact that darkness was rapidly approaching. Of those so suddeuly thrown into the water Rawiri Tautau and Harry Glover managed to swim ashore, reaching land in a thoroughly exhausted condition, Restoratives were hastily given, and there is every reason to hope that they will be all right in a day or two. It was asserted by some persons on the beach that, despite the failing light- they had seen two persons hoisted on board the steamer, one of whom, they asserted, to be Constable Stagpoole. The identity of the other was unknown, Search parties were at once organised, and went up and down the beach all night. The steamer stood nearer in and sent out a boat, the steamer and the boat apparently moving backwards and forwards to rescue anyone who might be still floating, Two rockets were thrown up by the boat and other [signals displayed, which, however, could not be understood by those on shore. On Sunday morning the Australia went on North.

The search parties, whose ardour was unabated, and who spared neither time nor trouble to find the missing persons, were rewarded by the discovery at different points down the beach of the bodies of James, Ropiana Hautatu and the three Kirk children. The bodies were all removed to the township to await the inquest. Yesterday morning early Constable McGill arrived from town to hold the inquest, and later on, about half-past ten, Mrs Kirk’s body was found. This discovery accounted for all the missing ones but two, Stagpole and the Maori, Harry Hautau, and everybody, both in Tologa and town, seemed confident that they had been saved, the more so as it was well known that both were expert swimmers and men of strong physique. Intelligence received in town last night referred mainly to the inquest on the sixbodies, which was held at the Sea View Hotel, and very largely attended. A verdict of “ Accidental Death ” was returned by the jury. LATEST. STAGPOOLE, AND HARE HAUTAU ALL RIGHT. [Special to Standard.] Auckland, last night. The s.s. Australia arrived here at 6 10 from Gisborne and Tologa Bay. Constable Stagpoole and a Maori named Hori Hautau were saved at Tologa, and landed at Hicks’ Bay, all well. Another telegram received by Mr Dougherty, the Union Company’s agent says :—“ Stagpoole and one Maori picked up by s.s. Australia, and both landed at Hicks’ Bay. Wire Tologa.” G. Crawshaw. Great sympathy was caused in town on Saturday night for Mrs Stagpoole, well known as a daughterof Mrs Maher. Happily all anxiety is now over, and congratuations will now take the place of sympathy. Mr James leaves a wife and family, whilst Mr Kirk is sincerely to be condoled upon in the awful loss of those nearest and dearest to him. Wellington, last night. The news of the awful disaster at Tologa Bay, following so soon after the great number of other shipping disasters just recently, has caused a very painful sensation.