SEA TRAGEDY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 3 April 1923, Page 5

SEA TRAGEDY

j CAPSIZE OF A LAUNCH

FIVE MEN DROWNED

(United Press Association). AUCKLAND, Tin's Day. The loss of five lives was involved in a fatality which occurred on Tairua bar, ‘some twenty miles from Mercury Bay about nine o'clock on Saturday evening. IA resident of Tairua fell overboard from the launch Elida while crossing the bar ’and in an unsuccessful attempt to rescue the unfortunate man an Auckland owned launch Lorraine capsized and four of the occupants also drowned. The names oCthe victims are — W. S. Southernwood, of Newton road, I Auckland, owner of the Lorraine. 1 H. Chappell, of Valley Road, Mt. I Eden. i T. Culhane, of Hopotouu Street, j Auckland. ! N. Robson, of Arthur Street. Ponson-

bv. Alex Rolandson, who was lost overboard from the launch Elida. Three other occupants of the Lorraine, who were saved, were Y\L Walsh, of jJchn Street, Fonsonby; T. Jenkins, of ’.Auckland; and Tilstou Corrywright, of Tairua.

The occupants of the Elida besides Ro landson were Harold and Cyril Corry wright, and Viera (?). all of Tairua.

A THRILLING STORY

BY ONE OF THE SURVIVORS

(United Press Association)

AUCKLAND, This Day

A thrilling story iti connection with the launch fatality oil Tairua bar on Saturday evening was told by ’l. Jenkins, the first, of three survivors of the crew 'of the huineb Lorraine to reach Auckland. With T. Corrywright. and W. Walsh, both of Auckland. Jenkins was rescued by the launch Elida. When the Lorraine capsized Jenkins was rather severely knocked about on the head and face by the wreckage of the capsized launch, and spent over an hour in the water before being picked up. Ilis appearance last evening was that of a man who had passed through a fearful strain, but he gave a vivid account of the tragic episode. “There was n terrific sea on the bar that night,” said Air Jenkins. “'I he tide was running out and the wind was driving the breakers in, so that the waves crashed together on the bar. I’. Corry - wright was steering the Lorraine, Ronaldson was in the engine room. Chappell and I were reading in the cabin. A huge bleaker 'suddenly struck us broadside and capsized us. We were then about three, chains from the shore. Chappell and T rushed out into the cockpit, which was full of water. Tho'dinghy had been swept a wav. Culhane was struggling in the water." Walsh and I tried to get to tho dinghv, when Walsh got his feet tangled in" a fishing line. Robson seized a rope and was throwing it to Culhane, when I saw a terrific breaker curling right on top of us. It crashed down, and then came another washing us all out into the surf and pounding the launch to matchwood. I never saw anything 'more of Southernwood (who was in the engine room), Robson or Culhane. “I was beaten down again and again; and battered with wreckage, but. managed to iceep mv senses. Presently I found myself "hanging to a- piece oi wreckage and being washed over tlie bar out to' seat at a great rale. _ I saw Corrvwright get hold of a benzine tin. cw ill mi in ,r with it to At nlsli. Attci I got over" the bar I drifted to sea with , the current for about an hour. Then I heard someone shouting irom the shore. I shouted back. Presently the Elida came up behind and threw a rope to me. I was pretty well all in when they got me aboard, "hut I told them that Corrywright and Walsh were somewhere al “About an hour later we sighted them, still hanging to the benzine tin. They must have drifted over six miles. Walsh was nearly done for, and, but for Corrvwright "would doubtless have lost his "life. The latter managed to clear Walsh’s feet of the fishing line and helped him to keen afloat-. Me threw life belt which Corrvwright pulled over Walsh’s shoulders and kept him up till we could draw them both in. They were both in a pretty bad way and we had to rub them for nearly an hour to bring them round. “The Elida cruised about until one o'clock looking for the others, but without success. 'Chen we headed foi Slipper Island, about seven miles from Tairua. When we readied it we found the breakers were too heavy for the launch to land us so _ Corrywright swam -ashore, got a dinghy. and brought it back to us. Corrywright and I made our way half a mile or so inland to the farm house of two Scotsmen brothers, whose kindness some of us will never forget. One of them got a hot meal and beds ready and the other went cidwn to the shore with dry clothing and helped Corrywright and Walsh to the house. We went to bed about four o'clock.” ~ , ... From what Jenkins was told by the skipper of the Elida and bis Brother it appears that Alex Rolandson was standing talking to Harold Corrywright, who i was steering, when a heavy sea struck i the launch, washing her dinghy away. Rolandson immediately went astern and was doubtless trying to recover the dinghy when another big sea broke aboard the launch and washed him overboard. thus precipitating a fivefold tragedy. t . —MMimMIMWIIBUa