LAUNCH CAPSIZED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23016, 20 October 1936, Page 9

LAUNCH CAPSIZED

HAWKESBURY RIVER TRAGEDY LOSS OF TWELVE LIVES (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) SYDNEY, Oct. 19 (Received Oct. 19, at 8 p.m.) Twelve persons were drowned on Sunday afternoon when a fierce squall capsized a launch on the Hawkesbury River. A party of 14 were in the boat, which was overturned by a huge wave. At dawn to-day two persons were found clinging to a rock in a semi-conscious condition. This was the first indication of the tragedy. A subsequent search resulted in five bodies being found. Seven are still missing. The party were returning from a week-end at Patonga. The survivors, Norman Jones -.nd Wolfe Kalenstein, were clinging weakly to rocks, their strength exhausted, when they were rescued by an Italian fisherman. Jones said the launch went over so quickly that it seemed as though a giant had picked it up and capsized it. Kalenstein lost in the tragedy his wife, his child, his sister, and a brother. The victims, whose bodies have been recovered, were Mrs Clare Kalenstein, Rachel Kalenstein, Sally Klarnett, Mrs Rachel Penn, and a girl believed to be Thelma Solomon. The missing are Clifton Jones, Cecil Penn (husband of Rachel Henry Kalenstein, Jack Kalenstein (an infant), Mrs Neilson and Hector and David Isenberg. ANOTHER BODY RECOVERED SYDNEY, Oct. 19 (Received Oct. 20, at 0.30 a.m.) Miss Klarnett and Henry Kalenstein were engaged to be married The body of Clifton Jones, the owner of the launch, has been recovered. He was an uncle of the survivor, Norman Jones.