FISHING TRAGEDY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23191, 10 November 1938, Page 12

FISHING TRAGEDY

BOAT CARRIED TO SEA EXHAUSTED MAN DIES SURVIVOR'S NIGHT ADRIFT ARDUOUS OVERLAND TRAMP £fboai our own correspondent] BUKEKOHE, Wednesday One of two men who were adrift last night in a water-logged boat off the heads at Port Waikato collapsed and died, and his companion ultimately reached the shore and found his way in an exhausted condition to a farmhouse some miles from the spot where the boat drifted inshore. The victim was:— Mr. Thomas Taylor, aged 31, farm manager, of Otaua, Waiuku, married, with two children. The owner of the boat, Mr. Leslie Orrnond'Henry, farmer, of Aka Aka, who was with Mr. Taylor, is suffering from shock and exposure. He was confined to bed to-day, but his condition is not serious. Carried Out by Tide The two men left their homes, which are within about four miles of one, another, soon after 10 o'clock yesterday morning for a day's fishing at the estuary of the Waikato River, in Mr. Henry's 14ft. .boat, which is flatbottomed and powered by an outboard motor. When in the channel at the mouth of the river the tide began to ebb t find the wind was blowing off the land and they discovered that the anchor was. dragging and they were drifting toward the bar. They attempted to start the motor, but it I would not function.

Relating the circumstances to-day, Mr. Henry said the boat was carried out over the bar. They finally succeeded in starting the engine, but found they could make little or no headway against the tide running out of the river. Then a wave capsized the boat. • ' Waves Wash Over Boat Mr. Henry jettisoned the motor so that the craft would not sink. He and Mr. Taylor scrambled into it in its swamped state, but were unable to bale it out, as the waves continued washing over it. Two four-gallon benzine tins fitted fore and aft gave it a little buoyancy. No one from the shore noticed their plight, there being no houses in the vicinity of the bar, which is a considerable distance from the port, with brush-covered sand dunes intervening. ' Mr. Henry estimated that they drifted about a mile and a-half out to sea. The capsize occurred about 3 p.m., and other waves rolled the craft over again about six or seven times as they drifted with the current. Each time they had to scramble into the boat again. They "had one oar, which had been lashed to the seats, but found it hopeless to make land with this. Mr. Taylor's Collapse Mr. Taylor appeared to be exhausted and about 10 p.m. he collapsed and j djed. Mr. Henry kept the body in the | boat. He found difficulty in retaining consciousness himself. / At a time which Mr. Henry thinks must have been about six o'clock this morning, the boat drifted inshore and was washed up at the mouth of the Waikaretu Creels, about 15 miles south of the 'Waikato Heads, He left Mr. Taylor's body in the boat and commenced to make his way inland. Revived by Evee's Milk

In his exhausted state, Mr. Henry found it difficult to continue. He found he was on sheep country and managed to get up to a ewe with a lamb. He milked the ewe into his cupped hand and on drinking the milk was considerably revived. About three miles from the boat Mr. Henry came to the house of Mr. H. E. Whitford, who, on learning what had happened, rode on a horse to the nearest telephone, which is at Ohuka Station, about two miles away, and advised Constable C. Robb, of Tuakau, of -the tragedy. (Meanwhile, a search was being made for the two men from the Waiuku end. It was expected that they would return before milking time last evening, and when they had not come home by nine o'clock anxiety was felt. Neighbours'secured a boat and went out on the estuary and as far downstream as the wharf at Port . : Waikato. The searchers returned shortly after midnight and notified Constable B. Henry, of Waiuku. The search was continued until after daybreak. . • Recovery of the Body Constables Robb and Henry recovered the body of Mr. Taylor. It had been washed out of the boat and was lying about half .a chain farther up the beach. A sledge drawn by two horses was used to take it out to the road. A 45-mile journey bv car was then mado to Pukekohe, where an inquest was - opened by the district coroner, Mr. C. K. Lawrie, and after evidence of identification had been heard, was adjourned. *