FATAL BOAT ACCIDENT.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 181, 11 August 1888, Page 2

FATAL BOAT ACCIDENT.

TWO WHALEBOATS CAPSIZED AND A NATIVE DROWNED. AN EXCITING WHALE HUNT. News reached us yesterday of the fatal result of a whaling expedition at Pokotokiwa, beyond pakarae. Two boats, each containing eight natives, were out in pursuit of a number of whales, and the natives were successful, after some manrouvring, in getting their lines attached to one whale. Rut they had undertaken a task involving much peril, and the natives were in for a lively time in their endeavors to capture the monster of tfie deep, The animal attacked the boqts, with tfie result that h ot h of them were smashed tip. The unfortunate natives were floundering in the water, in imminent danger of being crushed to death as well as of being drowned. One poor fellow named Tamati disappeared, and was not seen again, having evidently been seriously injured. Another Maori was much hurt. Being all good swimmers, the natives were able to sqstaiq themselves in the water for a period of two hours, when a third crew had put off from the land. The Maoris held up bravely until succour had arrived, and when picked up were much affected by exposure and exhaustion. But they were not daunted, and the whale was secured and triumphantly towed ashore. Tamati, the native who was drowned, was about twenty years of age, and had previously been working tor Mr Seymour, The body has not yet been recovered. There is a prospect of the injured native getting all right again.