WINDERMERE TRAGEDY

Northern Advocate, 16 June 1930, Page 5

WINDERMERE TRAGEDY

SIR H. SEGRAVE’S DEATH GALLANT CAREER CLOSED. IN HOUR OF TRIUMPH. (British Official Wireless.) (Received 9 a.m.) RUGBY, June 14. The disaster to Miss England 11. occurred while -Sir Henry Segrave was making a trial run preparatory to his formal run on the world’s water speed record in Lake Windermere. It is learned that Sir Henry Segrave’s injuries included two broken arms, a broken leg and broken ribs, one of which perforated/ the lung. Sir H. Segrave took Miss England 11. with her huge engines, out into the lake at 3 o’clock, and the speed boat started on her first trial. Fitted to her was a bronze propeller brought from London to replace the one broken yesterday.

Within a few seconds the boat was travelling at a terrific speed. After covering the measured mile up the lake she turned and there was another terrific, burst of speed as she covered the mile down the lake. For the third time the- boat turned rind travelled at almost her maximum speed. The roar of the giant engines echoed from one shore to another. Appalling Plunge.

Then she seemed to accelerate. Suddenly the great mass of machinery enclosed in its slim white, shell .seemed to swerve violently and plunge beneath the water.

A huge mass of white spray went up and its was several seconds before the graceful craft was seen again. Mr Willeocks was badly injured over the eyes and his thigh was broken. Sir H. Segrave was picked up unconscious within a few seconds and both were taken ashore and sent to hospital. Sir H. Segrave was saved by a man named King, who .was in one of the motor boats first on the scene. The body of Mr Haiti well has not yet been recovered. There was no one else in tho boat.

Several theories are being advanced regarding the cause of the disaster. One eye-witness says that “the step” on the bottom of the boat .suddenly seemed to burst and the boat swerved terribly before capsizing. Another view is that the boat hit a piece of driftwood, which would have been sufficient to cause an accident. Highest Velocity. ..After the disaster tho timekeepers announced officially that Miss England IT. had beaten the world’s speed record, during her first two runs with a mean speed of 98.76 miles, set up by the American, Mr Gar Wood. The speed on the first run was 96.41 miles an hour and on the .second run 101.11 miles. The figures of the new record will be forwarded to the International Marine Yachting Union for official recognition as a new world record. Sir H. Segrave,’, before his death .. had thus achieved the double distinction of creating the world records for speed on both land and water.

At Daytona Beach, Florida, on March 11, 1929, in tho racing car Golden Arrow, he set up the world’s record for land with an average speed of 281.36 miles An hour, beating by nearly 24 miles per hour the record set up the previous year by Ray Keceh, the American driver. It was for this magnificent achievement that ho was knighted.

Sir H. Segrave’s triumph at this time was marred by tragedy, for two days after his brilliant success, Lee Bible, the American driver, was killed there in attempting to eclipse Segrave’s figures.

CONSCIOUS FOR TWO MINUTES. LAST INQUIRY ABOUT RECORD. CAUSE OF CALAMITY. SUNKEN BRANCH THEORY. (Received 8.45 a.m.) LONDON, June 14. Sir Henry Scgrave was conscious for two minutes before he died. Though in terrible pain, he was so much master of himself that he asked by how much he had beaten the record. lie died of internal haemorrhage, broken ribs on the right side having punctured the lung. Another theory of the accident is that the Miss England II ran into the wash, caused by her own passage on the second lap. The water was most turbulent when she came back from the third lap at. such speed that even a, wave ef moderate height would have been sufficient to make her leap from the water. Then, when she touched the water again, the blow might have ripped away her hull.

It seems certain that Hie propeller stood the strain, as it. was seen to lie intact, whim the Miss England II sank, but there is evidence of broken timber in the bottom of Hie boat.

A pathetic feature of the tragedy was the dramatic, dash of Sir Henry Segravc’s father in an aeroplane when he heard of the accident. A few minutes after the aeroplane left, London the news was received that his sou was dead, but the father only lea nit the news when the plan e reachmi Manchester, whence he motored to Windermere.

Lady Regravc is prostrated with grief and was unable to attend the inquest which opened and adjourned.

Mr Halliwc'll’s body has not been

recovered. It is believed to be imprisoned in the boat, the salvaging of which is being considered. Another statement points out that, the greater portion of the front step was torn away. A water-logged branch of a. tree, three feet in length and three inches in diameter, which was pinked up astern of the Miss England 11 after the disaster is believed to have caused the damage. The main hull and the machinery were undamaged. Their Majesties and the Prince of Wales sent messages of sympathy to Lady Segrave. TERRIFIC PACE. BOAT 33 FATHOMS DEEP. TECHNICIANS ’ CONCLUSIONS. (British Official Wireless.) (Received 11,32 a.m.) RUGBY, June 15. It is unofficially, but reliably stated that Sir Henry Segrave had attained 119,8 miles an hour when the fatal plunge occurred. Soundings show that the Miss England 11. is in 198 feet of water.

It is revealed that Sir Henry Segrave cherished the hope of gaining the speed records for land, sea and air, but his death frustrated the last-named, for which he had been negotiating with the Air itinistry to purchase or loan one of the Schnieder Cup seaplanes.

At the opening of the inquest the Coroner said: “Some may think that this is a life which had been throwu away. There may be something' in that. ' ’

Counsel for Sir Henry’s father stated that evidence as to the probable cause of the disaster was now available and would be produced at the appropriate time.

After the inquest had been adjourned, Lord Brecknock, on behalf of the Marine .Motoring Association, issued a statement signed by technical experts, who reported that they wore agreed that the boat, engine and transmission gear were all in perfect condition for the first two laps and part of the third, when apparently something happened to cause the disaster. Prom examination of the boat before it sank, it appeared that the front step on the .port side was torn away. Later the missing portion of the stop was received, and it furnished sufficient evidence to indicate the probable cause of the disaster, namely, that a floating obstacle was hit: by the rear portion of the step, causing it to be torn off.

.Subsequently ,it had been learned that, 20 minutes after the disaster, a waterlogged branch of a. tree, approximately 20 feet in length and three inches in diameter was picked up 200 yards astern of the boat, and as nearly as can bo ascertained in its direct path.

EXPERT’S BODY FOUND. CLOSE TO SUNKEN CRAFT, KILLED WHILE TAKING NOTES, (Received 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, June 14. The body of Mr Halliwell, the Rolls Royee engine export, was dragged up close to the sunken Miss' England 11. A pencil was still clutched in one hand and a piece of paper in the other. He was apparently taking notes of the boat’s speed and the engine revolutions when the disaster occurred. BROTHER ABROAD. VISITING MELBOURNE.

(Received 9 a.m.) MELBOURNE, Juno 15. Mr C. R. Scgrave is on holiday in Melbourne with his wife. He is a brother to Sir Henry Scgrave. LAND FEAT RECALLED. GOLDEN ARROW ON VIEW. (Received 9 a.m.) ADELAIDE, June 15. Sir Henry Segrave’s famous racing motor car, the Golden Arrow, is on view at the Adelaide Motor Show. The news of Sir Henry Segrave’s death has caused profound regret, (An account of Sir H. .Segrave’s career and a. description of the Miss England IT. appear on Pago (J.)