DOUBLE DROWNING TRAGEDY.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 11 April 1939, Page 8

DOUBLE DROWNING TRAGEDY.

MAN’S COURAGEOUS RESCUE

(By Telegraph —Press Association.) AUCKLAND, Last Night.

Two men were drowned to-day when a launch bringing a party of eight men back from an Easter big-game fishing expedition to Mayor Island was capsized on Bowentown bar at the mouth of the Katikhti entrance to Tauranga Harbour. Six remaining members of the party were rescued as a result of a courageous swim by Waihi fire-brigades-man George Venn ell. The victims were: Louis Murphy, aged 50, single, chief clerk for the Martha, Gold Mining Company’s battery at Waikino, John Henrikson, aged 30, single, farmer, of Matamata, The party of eight men, including William Curtis (Te Aroha), V. Stewart (Morrinsville) and T. Donovan (Morrinsville), is thought to have left for Mayor Island on Thursday night in the 30ft. launch Mako, owned by Curtis. They left on their return to-day shortly before mid-day. The Mako approached Bowentown bar, which, although frequently used by small vessels, is regarded as treacherous in a heavy sea. Such a sea was running to-day and other vessels outside chose to enter Tauranga by the other entrance. The Mako, however, attempted the passage and she was right on top of the bar when a high wave lifted up and struck her broadside on. She capsized immediately and all the men were thrown into the sea. At the same time the mast of the Mako was smashed and the entire decking was ripped off and cast into the sea. Clinging to Mast Henrikson apparently was able to seize the mast and he later came ashore still clinging to it. It was found, however, that he was dead. Murphy and six other men scrambled on to the wreckage of the decking, but Murphy was washed off by another wave and was not seen again. His body has not yet been recovered. Meantime the capsize had been noticed by a number of people on shore and a crowd of residents and police quickly collected to give aid to the men, who could be seen clinging to the decking. It was then that Mr. Vennell tied a line Around his waist and swam about 200 yards through heavy surf to the group of men, all of whom were rapidly becoming exhausted by their struggles against the sea. Swam to Wreckage

Vennell succeeeded in attaching the line to the wreckage and men on shore were able to haul the decking in to the shore. Curtis was found to be deeply exhausted, but the others soon recovered from their narrow escape from drowning. The launyh was later washed ashore on the Waihi Beach. It was found that the wave which had capsized it had stove in one of the sides aiid with the

damage to the superstructure added it is thought the vessel is practically irreparable.