A LAUNCH TRAGEDY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21264, 19 February 1931, Page 13

A LAUNCH TRAGEDY.

MAN LOST OVERBOARD. TRYING EXPERIENCE OF TWO COMPANIONS. (Special to Daily Times.) AUCKLAND, February 18. News of the exhausting ordeal which was undergone off a wild and rugged part of the coast of British Columbia by three members of a launch party — two from Australia and one a former resident of Auckland—was received in Auckland to-day by the Pacific Cable Board from its Bamfield station, where 1 the men were employed. One of the men, Mr H. W. Fitzpatrick, of Queensland, was washed off the rocks on Copper Island and drowned. The other members of the party were Mr H. J. Fox, whose parents reside at Mount Eden, and Mr C. A. J. Barden, of Australia. The men were returning from Port Alberni to Bamfield in a launch last Saturday evening. When about four miles from Bamfield it was found that Mr Fitzpatrick had fallen overboard. Cries were heard from him, but it was some time before his plight rvas noticed. The other men then saw him holding on to the side of the boat, and for three hours they struggled to get him aboard. They were hampered by his size, and also by cold winds and the sea, the season being near the middle of Canada’s winter. Mr Fitzpatrick became numb with cold, and was unable to help himself. The men on the launch decided that the only way to save him was to make for the shore, but the coast at that point was inhospitable, with precipitous cliffs and deep water. Mr Fox and Mr Barden swam ashore with their unconscious companion, and they dragged him as far as possible up the rocks. It was then noticed that the boat was drifting, and Mr Fox swam out to it through the icy cold water. He reached the launch, and found that the steering gear had been smashed when the vessel first struck the shore. Owing to the rising flood tide and the high winds he was unable to return to the shore, and lost touch with his companions. He anchored close to some rocks for the night. Meanwhile, Mr Barden had fainted from the effects of cold and exhaustion. On coming to in the early hours of the morning, h.e could find no trace of Mr Fitzpatrick. He attracted the attention of a passing fishing boat, and was able to reach the cable station in safety." Mr Fox, who was seen by a passing boat, was also rescued on Sunday. Search was made for Mr Fitzpatrick, and his body was found in a little bay at Copper Island. It is surmised that he was washed from the rocks by the rising flood tide. Mr Fitzpatrick was well known in Auckland, where he had served on the cable steamer Iris. He was one of the most promising members of the service.