SEARCH OF SHORE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22628, 16 January 1937, Page 12

SEARCH OF SHORE

DISCOVERY OF BOY CROUCHING UNDER ROCK ONLY ONE BODY RECOVERED Tim first person to learn of the tragedy vvl 's Mr. 11. 0. Hell, of •"> Dromornn Mosul. Mom worn, who, with Mrs. Hell and their two daughters, w.'is spending a holiday at Torhay, occupying a cottage owned hy Mrs. K. L. Carmen, of Torhay. Mr. Moll was roused at about 2..'!0 yesterday morning hy one of the two survivors, Mr. Mason, who had heeu washed ashore in Winstone's Cove and had walked over a quarter of a mile along a rocky shore to the cottage. After Mr. 'Mason had been given attention Mr. Hell advised the Takapuna police and summoned assistance from Torhay residents. Accompanied hy the Torhay postmaster, Mr. (i. Aston, Mr. Mel I w cut to the northern end of Winstone's Cove. The tide was low and they were able to clamber along the rockv shore, although they were hampered by the darkness. After going a little distance they came upon the dinghy, a craft of about l ift., which was intact. Lad Cared For The searchers continued on and shortly afterward Mr. Aston found the hoy Wood rode crouching under a rock. He w:is conscious and did not appear to be badly injured, and the two men assisted him to the residence of Mr. Percv Winstonc at the north end of the

rove. Returning to the bench, they met Mr. I?. K. Brett, of 27 St. Stephen's A vonuc, Parnell, another holiday-maker at Torhay, who had also joined in the search.

Mr. Brett had discovered the body pf Mr. T)e Knirc in the cove but, finding life extinct, had continued 011 seeking anyone who might still be living. The three men then tried to work northward along the shore in the direction of Long Beach. They came upon a life-belt and an oar, but found nothing else, although Mr. Aston, at much risk to himself, scrambled a considerable distance over the rocks. Body Lashed to Rock On returning to the cove they were joined by Mr. I?. Smith, of Torhay, and Messrs. Bell, Aston and Smith then wont back to where -Mr. Do Fa ire s bodv lay. It was now about 6 a.m. and the tide had risen a good deal. It was found impossible to take the dead man s body up the steep, slippery clay cliff, so their only course was to lash it to a high rock and wait until the tide was at the ebb again.

In the meantime a search of the Torbav beach was carried out by Mr. A. Boss, the schoolmaster at Torhay, but nothing was found. Constables A. Moloney and I). Yeoward arrived from Takapuna at an early hour and immediately organised searches along the shore. Later in the day they recovered the body of Mr. Do Faire, but at a late hour last night no trace of the other missing men had been found. Further searches will he carried out to-day. Recollection Hazy Although he was not seriously injured, the boy Woodrotfe could remember little of what had happened after he lost his hold on the capsized dinghy. Not a powerful swimmer, he tried to reach it twice, but was unsuccessful, and then began "dog-paddling" to the shore. Apparently he became semi-con-scious, for his next recollection was that he was lying on the beach, his mouth full of sand, and feeling extremely thirsty.

After being given attention, and resting at Mr. Winstone's home, he was taken back to Auckland by his father, who also brought Mr. Mason to the city. Mr. AVoodroffc said yesterday that his son had made several trips with (- a Ptain Petersen in the Kangi during the* present holidays. No trace of the bodies of the missing men had been found at 11 o'clock last night, when an intensive search of the rocks at Torbay made by CJonstablo A. J). Yeoward, of Takapuna, and a resident, had to be abandoned on account of the rising tide.

VICTIMS OF WRECK CAPTAIN'S EXPERIENCE MANY YEARS IN COMMAND The master of the Rangi, Captain P. J Petersen, had been in charge of the scow for tho last 12 years and enjoyed a considerable reputation as being a skilful, steady and thorough seaman. Ho had been at sea almost continuously since he was 11 years of age and had made hundreds of trips in the Rangi for the Leyland-O'Brieu Timber Company. Captain Petersen and Messrs. Helgeson, l)e Faire and Mason were friends as well as shipmates and the houses of Captain Petersen. Mr. Mason and Mr. W. I). Woodroffe, the father of Donald Woodrotle, are within a few doors of one another. Mr. Helgeson and Mr. Do Faire were also close, friends, Tho young man, who was the fifth member of the crew, was signed on by Captain Petersen at the wharf in place of a young .man who had obtained a berth on another vessel.

Morn in Denmark, Captain Petersen came out to New Zealand when he was ].'{ years of ago and was apprenticed shortly afterward to the Parker l/ainl> Timber Company. After serving before the mast for some time ho took his master's eertilieate and was later captain of the seow Tally Ho. Then ho served the Northern Steamship Company for sonic time before becoming interested in a. timber-milling venture on the shores of Lake I'oto-iti. where lie stayed for about five years, lie was appointed captain of the Kangi not many years after the lieyland-O'ltrien Company bought, her and has been uitli her over since. He was married and had three sons and two daughters. .Mr. Ilelgoson iiad been Captain Petersen's mate for several years and lie too had followed the sea fairly regularly since he came to New Zealand. Mr. Do Kaire. the ship's cook, had lived a very roving life ami had served in many ships and also as cook in camps in the countrv.

The surname and address of the youth named William was not known to the police at a late hour last night. He was on his first trip and. as he is not known to the Leylaiul-O'liricn Timber Company, it, is believed that he signed II|) just before the liangi left, for Oniokbroa. Mr. Mason thought bo came from Hotorua, hut the Hotorua police stated last night that they had had no inquiries about him. According to Mr. Mason the youth could not swim. Mr. Do Kairo spent much of his time on hoard the scow, but it is stated that he lived in Nelson Street, City, when ashore.