TRAGIC FISHING TRIP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21225, 4 July 1932, Page 10

TRAGIC FISHING TRIP.

FATALITY IN THE NORTH.

WH ANGAREI MAN DROWNED.

NO TRACE OF COMPANION. LAUNCH AND DINGHY FOUND. [from our own correspondent.] WHANGAREI, Sunday. The launch Sadie, which was reported missing on Friday, was found to-day under tragic circumstances. One of the occupants, Mr. Srecko Alach, a single man, a«ed about 24 years, was found drowned, and the other Mr. Frank Glucina, married, aged 39 years, is missing. The body of Mr. Alach was found yesterday morning by a party of Maoris, who saw the dinghy of the launch about 100 (yards from the land at Taiharuru, opposite the Taiharuru River entrance, which' is about nine miles north of the Hen and Chickens Island.

Tho two fishermen left Whangarei last Sunday for the fishing grounds near tho Hen and Chickens Islands. Beforo leaving, Mr. Glucina notified his intention of returning' on Wednesday. The Maoris found the body of Mr. Alach lying partially out of the dinghy amidships. The boat was swamped, but was still floating. Yards of fishing lines were tangled round Mr. Alach's legs, and the dinghy was anchored to the spot by a long fishing-line which Mr. Alach appeared to have been in the act of pulling in when the tragedy occurred. Another set line was attached to a buoy. The launch Sadie was anchored about half-a-mile out from the dinghy. Launch Brought to Whangarei.

The Maoris immediately sent for the police, and Detective-Sergeant Robertson and Constable Beasley left by car for the scene. The launch and dinghy were brought back to Whangarei, the launch travelling under its own power, and arriving at the Town Wharf, Whangarei, at 8.10 last evening. Constable Beasley is remaining at Taiharuru to conduct a further search for Mr. Glucina, of whom there is no trace. A sum of money, totalling about £6O, was found in the launch. It is understood that both men were in the habit of keeping a large sum with them. The rowlocks and oars of the dinghy were missing, and under the boat was found a mark which indicates that it might have struck a submerged rock and capsized. When the first anxiety was felt for the missing men, on Friday afternoon, Captain R. W. Patterson, accompanied by Mr. Jack Glucina, a brother of the missing man, went immediately to the Hen and Chickens Islands in Captain Patterson's launch Eva, arriving there at about 6 p.m. They commenced a search, working on the theory that the men had been fishing from the dinghy in the dark, and that the launch had drifted and they were stranded on one of the islands. Search in the Dark.

Lights were shown and the foghorn was sounded, but without success. Mr.. Jack Glucina had beeu rowing in the launch's dinghy for three hours, and it- was decided to anchor for the night. At daylight yesterday the search was resumed, and the Eva circled the Hen Island. A further search was made of the Chickens Islands, and the party then returned to Whaugarei, arriving at the Town Wharf last evening. It is thought that Mr. Alach might have been in the act of hauling in the big line, pn which there are • about 300 hooks, when the boat either capsized or was swamped, and he became entangled in the line. His big sea boots would hamper him greatly in any efforts to escape. Mr. Glucina was not in the habit of wearing fishing boots, and he may have endeavoured to reach the shore or swim back to the Sadie. He was a strong swimmer. It is thought the tragedy occurred some time on Tuesday night or on Wednesday, as, although the Maoris Had seen the launch anchored since Tuesday night, there had been no sign of life. Thefe was a good ca(ch of fish in the launch, indicating that the men were ready to return to Whangarei. Long Experience On Coast.

Mr. Alach was a native of Yugo-Slavia and had been in Whangarei since 1928 engaged in fishing. Mr. Glucina, who was also born in Yugo-Slavia, was well known in Whangarei, and was regarded as one of the most reliable fishermen in the North:

An inquest concerning Mr.' Alach's death will be opened to-morrow morning. Constable J. Norris left at four o'clock this morning on the launch Eva to conduct a further search, and local parties searched the shore to-day. Constablo Norris returned to Whangarei this evening, having found no trace of the missing man.