TRAGEDY OF SEA.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIV, Issue 671, 3 April 1923, Page 5

TRAGEDY OF SEA.

LOSS OF FIVE LIVES.

CAPSIZE OF A LAUNCH.

FATALITY ON TiVUIUA BAR

(Per Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, April 3,

The loss of live lives was involved in a fatality which occurred on the Tairua bar, some 20 miles from Mercury Bay, about nine o’clock on Saturday evening. A resident of Tairua foil overboard from the launch Elida while crossing the bar and in unsuccessful attempts to rescue the .unfortunate man the Auckland-owned launch Lorraine capsized and four of its occupants were also drowned. The names of* the victims are:—

W. S. Southernwood, of Newton road, Auckland, owner of the Lorraine,

H. Chappell, of Valley road, ML Eden.- «• ,

T. Culhaue, of Hopetouu street, Auckland.

N. -Robson, of Arthur street, Ponsonby, Auckland,

Axel Rolandson, of Tairua, who was lost overboard Rom the launch Elida.

The three other' occupants from the launch Lorraine who were saved were W. Walsh, of John street, Ponsonby; T. Jenkins, of Auckland; and 'I listen Corv Wright, of Tairua. The occupants of the launch Elida, besides the deceased, 1! olanclsoii, were Ha rold anti, Cyril Cory Wright and Viera, all oi Tairua.

STORY BY A SURVIVOR.

A THRILLING NARRATIVE,

AUCKLAND, April 3. A thrilling story in connection with a, launch fatality at Tnirua Hay on Saturday evening is told by air J. Jenkins,, the first of the three stirvivors of the crew of the launch Loi* raino to reach Auckland. V\ith Mi T. Cory Wright and .Mr W. Walsh, both of Auckland, Mr Jenkins was rescued by the launch Elida. V hen the Lorraine capsized he himself was rather severely knocked about the head and face by the wreckage of the capsized launch. Ho spent over an hour in the water before being picked up. His appealance last evening was that of a man who had passed through a fearful strain, but be told a vivid_ account of the tragic.; episode, .giving wholehearted praise to iSie three Cory Wright .brothers, to.whose tireless and devoted efforts throughout the tonible night the survivors owe their lives. ‘‘There was a terrific sea on the bar iiiat night,” said Mr Jenkins, 1 the tide was running out and tlie wind was driving fcho breakers in so that the waves, crashed together oh the bar. Mi T,. Cory Wrigh Lavas steering the LorVah’iej' Mr RolaiuDpu was in the engine room, anil Mr Chappell arid I were reading in the cabin. A huge breakei suddenly-’ struck us broadside on and capsized us. Wo wore then about throb chains from the shore. Chappell and I rushed out into the cockpit, which was full of water. The dinghy had been swept away. Culbane was struggling in the water. Walsh and 1 tried to get the dinghy, when Walsh got his feet tangled in a fishing line. & “Robson seized a rope and was throwing it to Culbane, when I saw a terrific breaker curling right on top oi us. It crashed down. Then came another find another, washing us all out into the surf and pounding the launch to match wood.” “I never saw anything more ol Southernwood, who was in the engine room, Robson or Culbane. I was beaten down again and again and battered with the wreckage, but managed to keep m v senses. Presently 1 found mvself hanging to a piece of wreckage arid being washed over the bar out to sea at a great rate. •T saw Cory Wright get liold of a benzine tin, and swimming with it to Walsh. After 1 got over the bar I drifted to sea with the current for about an hour. Then I heard someone shouting from the shore. 1 shouted back, and presently the Elida came up and threw me a rope. Alter we capsized they had turned back. I was prettv well all in when they got me aboard, but 1 told them that Cory Wright and Walsh were somewhere ahead. “About an hour later we sighted them still.clinging to the benzine tin. They must have drifted over six miles. Walsh was nearly done lor, and but for Cory Wright lie would doubtless have lost bis life. The latter managed to clear Walsh’s feet of the fishing line and helped him to keep afloat. We threw a lifebelt, which Cory Wright pulled over Walsh's shoulders and kept him up till we Could draw them both ill/ .They were .both in a pretty bad way. Thou we bad to rub them for nearly an hour to bring them round.”