FATAL BOATING ACCIDENT AT WHANGAREI.

Ohinemuri Gazette, Volume I, Issue 43, 8 October 1892, Page 9

FATAL BOATING ACCIDENT AT WHANGAREI.

EIGHT MEN DROWNED. A terrible calamity occurred at Whangarei on Snnday, when Mr Tucker's yacht Minerva foundered, and eight men were drowned. The "Northern Advocate" publishes the following particulars of the occurrence in an extra; —The most terrible calamity that has ever befallen Whangarei within our experience occurred in in the harbour on Sunday, when the yacht Minerva (lately purchased by Mr J. P. Tucker in Auckland^ capsized or foundered, and eight of the nine persons on board were drowned. Ouly John Pearson (son of Andrew Pearson) escaped to tell the tale;

The Minerva left Whangarei oh Sun* day morning for a cruise down the 'harbour, having on board Messrs John P. Tucker, blacksmith and coach builder *(o'Wrier) ; Albert Tucker, his brother; H. F. Scaly, tailor, of Camerdh-street; -Albert Brqoker (son of Mr Mr W. Brooker^ butcher); E. Courtney (sou of Mr Courtney, bootmaker) ; F. Ranisay, ipTumber(stepstin of Mr Ramsay, piano "tuher:of Auckland); Clifibrd Wilson, labourer (late of Kawakawu); Alex. *Gallic, aged 22 (whose mother resides »in Wellington at Mr 3. Grice's. iJohn "Pearson, who was saved, is a railway 'advvy. The Minerva went down to the Nook, *Parua Bay, and afterwards left the bay -and sailed across the harbour to One Tree Point. The weather was boisterous, I*!s abigh sea was running, particuin the main channel between the and Siiake Bank. Mr Beasley, ofParua Bay, saw the ryacht sailing across the harbour, and was surprised to see her crossing the "channel, as with the state of the tide and high wind, a dangerous sea wdulcl "be running. He turned to do somet'hingj ";and when'he looked again could see nothing of the yacht, but as a kauri, *tree was in the line of sight, merely assumed that the yacht had sailed away .It was at this time that a squall struck the Minerva. John -^Pearson, the survivor, says:'"The squall struck the boat, and we were all 1 thrown into -the water.'' It appears; "to have happened so suddenly tnafc Pearson's whdle fecdllectibn of the affair 'ft summed up in this stateme^ht. Pear■on.afterwards saw Ramsay holding bti to the'hatch, and Couriney gwiraming. Bamsay told Pearson to catch hold of Another hatch that was floating about) bat Pearson preferred to trust to 'him-■-4*df.

The accident was observed by Messrs 'H. Scott and H. Going 1, who were out sailing, and they immediately sailed Tor ihe place where the Minerva was seen to go down. It took about an hour to teach the spot and they rescued John Pearson, who was still swimming' but in -a most exhausted state. Nothing ehso <was to be seen, and they took Pearson ashore, where steps were at once taken to resuscitate him. Pearson was brought on to Whangarei on Sunday night, where the news of the terrible accident immediately spread throughout the district. Search parties were immediatelyl fcrganised, and the p.s. Enterprise and' ■a dozen Btnaller boats went out to search 'for the bodies, but up to the present nothing bas been found, and the 'Government steamer Hinemoa, which is in the river, has gone down the harbour to continue the search. Captain iiWchild will not give it up without a thorough search. When the accident happend, poor Tucker was at the helm, and John Pearson had the sheet. The Minerva was a 2£ ton yacht. Three of those drowned were married' men, namely, John P. Tucker, who leaves a wife and five children, Clifford Wilson, who leaves a wife and three childreu,-,and "H. P. Sealey, who leaves ■« wife, but no children. Whangarei is" in deep mourning today. The .business .places of the late Uv J. P. Tucker and Mr H. P. Sealey and, Mr Brooker are closed, and every •other.place has its shutters up.