THE DISASTER AT EAST ISLAND.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1423, 8 June 1899, Page 24

THE DISASTER AT EAST ISLAND.

HOW THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED

SURVIVORS’ STORIES. AUCKLAND, Monday

Concerning tlie drow-ning of the first mate of the Hinemoa and three seamen through the upsetting of a boat while attempting to effect a landing at East Island, the two survivors have given a detailed story of the fatality. Mr Hardy, second mate of the Jlmemoa, states: —“Up to the very moment of the disaster the boat seemed to be going all right. Then it seemed to get into a current, and we could not get her end on. At that moment every man m the boat knew there was no hope.” After relating how the mate shouted encouragement to his men, and how the swamping of the boat followed on the loss of Osterman, Mr Hardy stated that lie and Weymark came up underneath the boat. “Wo both got clear from underneath the boat at the same time. I saw the two seamen Buchanan and Sjobolom on the bottom of the upturned boat, and just as I put my hand on the side of the boat a sea came and swept us away. I saw any more of the two seamen. lhat sea must have swept Weymark and me into the same current, because we were away from the others. I saw the mate a little ahead of me- He evidently had not been on the bottom of the boat. He was swimming powerfully for the shore, but it was impossible to keep swimming. I struggled to keep afloat till I could struggle no longer. I gave up all hope of reaching the shore, as I was being thrown here and there by the waves, and kept rolling over and Over. It avas impossible to keep afloat. After struggling all I could I lost consciousness, and 1 came round after dark on the island/" Mr Hardy spoke highly of the kindness of all the men on the island. They lighted fires, gave up their bunks to the rescued men, co\ r ered them with blankets, and provided them with dry clothes. Several of them sat up all night- watching the patients, and all the others searched the shore all night ivith torches for the bodies of the drowned. Mr Hardy had no idea hoiv long he ivas in the water, as he AA-as unconscious for a considerable

time. . .. The seaman Weymark gave a similar account of the fatality. Like Mr Hardy, he Avas beloAv tho boat when he first realised his position. He srav Hardy a hen he came from beloAV the boat, but wen the wave came they Avere separated. Getting towards shore, he heard someone shouting, “Help, help!” and he shouted hack, “Keep on!” When he reached the shore he AA’as barely conscious, but fie lealised that one man grasped him m the Avater, and they would have gone into the surf together but for another workman, who came and assisted both to dry land. Hardy had to be carried up the winding path to the houses occupied by the workmen engaged in the erection of the lighthouse. Weymark managed to tva’k up with the assistance of some of the rescue party. He states that they wore some 20 minutes in the house oefoie Hardy came round. He believes lie was about three-quarters of an hour in the Avater. He AA-as a Avituess to the rescue of Hardy, and states that but for being clutched by the men on shore the second officer would undoubtedly have gone back into the surf.

The Collector of Customs has not yet been able to arrange a day on Avliich to hold a Magisterial inquiry into the accident of the loss of the Hinemoa’s boat creAv. The Magistrate is unable to take the case to-morroAv, being engaged on Licensing Committee business, but the Collector hopes to have an inquiry commenced oil Wednesday at latest.

Mr William BroAvn, chief officer of the Hinemoa, Avho AA-as drowned in the accident on Saturday, hailed from Scotland, AA-here his father is the OAvner of several small sailing vessels. Before entering the Government service he avhs chief officer of the Rotorua and Taupo, but left the Union Company’s service to join the Blackball Company’s steamer Pareora in a similar position. He AA r as next appointed to lie chief officer of the Tutanekai, but on Captain Fairchild’s death Avas transferred to the Hinemoa. Mr Brown, avlio was thirty-three years of age, Avas considered a good officer and a splendid seaman. Athletically lie AA-as about the medium height, but sturdily built, and was a very powerful man. His Avife predeceased him some twelve months since.

The seaman Sjobolom Avas a Savcilo. tAA'ont.y-ffve years old, and unmarried. Neil Buchanan Avas formerly an ah’? seaman in the Union Company’s employ, and Avas a survivor from the Avreck of the Wairarapa. He Avas thirty years of a»"j. and, as his name denotes, a native if Scotland. Osterman Avas a Scandinavian, thirtyeight years of age, and a single man. An incident Avliich throws some light on the terrible hardship and life-risking nature of the Avork' entailed in Avorking these rock-girt lighthouses, which, in the ua jority of instances, are fully exposed to the disturbing influences of the on an ocean, is the fact that about tAVO months ago, on the Hinemoa’s arrival at Wellington, the Avhole of the creAv Avere naid off on account of some of the members refining boat duty ivhen ivorking the lighthouse at the North Cape. This incident ivas folloAved a fortnight ago by the socond officer, Mr Simpson, throwing up his position in the Government sen-ice to take up the duties of chief officer of tne Gertie, giving, we understand, as his re a son, that the surf-boat work Avas al’Jgetlier too dangerous for his liking, and generally that the life AA r as too hard.