THE TOLOGA BAY DISASTER

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 7974, 14 June 1887, Page 5

THE TOLOGA BAY DISASTER

SIX LIVES LOST. TWO MEN RESCUED. The Union Co.'a s.s. Australia arrived alongside the Railway Wharf last night from Wellington and East Coast ports. We learn that the steamer was successful in picking up two of the men who went off from the shore to the rescue of the boat that was capsized at Tologa Bay, whilst bringing the passengers on shore at that place from the Australia. The two men rescued were Constable Stagpoole and a native named Harry, and on the arrival of the steamer , ab, Hicks' Bay the two men were landed. Mr. George Martin, the purser of the Australia, kindly obtained for us the following account of the disaster, of which we gave some particulars in yesterday's issue : — On arrival at Teloga Bay tho steamer was anchored. Shortly afterwards a boat put out from the shore, for the purpose of taking the passengers—Mrs. Kirk, infant, and two children—ashore. On taking them in, the boat, with Harry Glover in charge and three Maoris pulling, left the Australia and proceeded ashore. About twenty minutes after the departure of Glover's boat from the Australia, the captain and chief officer, who were watching the progrees of the boat containing Mrs. Kirk and family, thought that thoy saw the boat capsize at the entrance of tho river. Their fears were confirmed by hearing cries for assistance from the unfortunate people in the water. The captain gave orders for a boat to be lowered, which was done with all possible speed. The chief officer and four of the steamer's crew started away to try and rescue those in danger, but owing to the hoavy sea and darkness then prevailing, it wui a difficult matter to find tho capsized boat. The only guide for our boat's crow were the cries from tho unfortunate men immersed In the water, two of whom were fortunately picked up and placed in the steamer's boats. The boa); waited for a time, but not being able to hear any other cries, and a rain squall coming on, it was deemed best to return to the Australia with the two rescued men, viz., Constable Stagpoole and a Maori named Harry. The men were in a very exhausted state when picked up, but on their arrival on board the Australia every care and attention was paid to them, and in a short while they were little the worse for their immersion.

It appears from the account of the acoident given by Constable Stagpooel,|that when Glover's boat, containing Mre. Kirk and. family and three Maoris, who were pulling, reached the bar of the river, the boat was capsized. Stagpoole, with the assistance of two natives, pulled off in a boat to the reacne of thoso in danger. They sacoeeded in reaching the oapmzad boat, and, only having room for one, they took off Harry, the native, who was in a very exhausted state. They then made a start for the shore, intending to land the Maori and return for the other three men, but they had not got far from the capsized boat when one of tho other poor natives asked to be taken, as he had not strength to cling on longer to the submerged boat. Constable Stagpoole pluckily resolved to try also to take this other man, bat in turning his boat she also capsized. Stagpoole and the Maori clung to her until they were picked up by the Australia's boat. Stagpoole says that he did not see Mrs. Kirk, but that he saw one of the Maoria trying to save the oldest girl, a ohild of about nine years of age. Nothing else ia known of the accident, as it waa impossible for the eteamer's boat to land, owinjf to tho tea, wind, and darkness. By the Captain's instructions, signals were made all throngh the night, intimating to those on shore that we had rescued two of the men. At day dawn every effort was made to land the men. but owing to the breeze freshening, and a heavy surf breaking on the beach, it was impossible to land them with safety. The Australia then proceeded on to Hicks' Bay, and there landed the two men. (Bt TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Giheorne, Monday. Mrs. Kirk's body has been found. The following are the names of the other bodies found -.—Joseph James (bootmaker), Ralph and Nellie Kirk and the baby (one month old), and Ropana Hautarl. The Australia arrived in the b»y at 4.40 p.m. A boat put out from the land containing Mr. A. Glovor, Rawiri Tautari, Ropana Hautari, and Harry Hautaa, and arrived safely at the steamer for passengers. Mrs. Kirk, Nellie Kirk (aged 9), Ralph (aged 2), and an infant (one month old) then got into it. When near the bar she was seen to founder, throwing the occupants into the water. Mr. Glover got safely aehore, followed by Rawiri Tautari, both exhausted. Ropana disappeared. The accident was seen from the beach, and Constable Stagpoole, Joseph James (bootmaker), Sam Gierman, and a Maori went to the rescue ; but, while in the act of saving the occupants of the first boat, their own boat swamped. Gierman got safely ashore. James was drowned.