Accidents & Offences

New Zealand Mail, Issue 662, 31 October 1884, Page 2 (Supplement)

Accidents & Offences

EATAL BOAT ACCIDENT AT PAHI. ♦ (united press association.) Auckland, October 24. Mr Decimus Atkinson, brother of Major Atkinson, has been drowned at Pahi by the upsetting of a boat. Some years ago he sommenced the manufacture of Portland cement at Wbangarei, which was not a success, and he has since been engaged in industries in the north. The body has not been recovered. FURTHER PARTICULARS. Mr Decimus Atkiuson, of Pahi, Kaipara, brother to Major Atkinson, went out sailing yesterday in company with Mr W. U. Metcalfe and family, when just opposite the township, a heavy squall struck the boat, which cap3iz?d and sank immediately. Metcalfe at once went to the assistance of his wife who had a babyin her arms, and supported them both until the boat reached them. It would appear that Mr Atkinson attempted to help the two children, but for some reason suddenly left them and disappeared, as when the boat arrived five minutes after the accident he could not be seen, though every effort was made to find him. Mr Metcalfe, with wonderful pluck and presence of mind kept Loth his wife’s head and the baby’s out of water until rescued. The other two children were picked up by boats, and they have all now recovered from the effects of their temporary immersion. Boats were dragging from the time of the accident until dark yesterday, but only succeeded in recovering the boat. They are now using every means to recover the body of Mr Atkinson. The sad accident has cast quite a gloom over the settlement. Great sympathy is expressed towards Mrs Atkinson and family in their bereavement.