Fatal Accident in the Lower Harbour.

Otago Witness, Issue 1764, 12 September 1885, Page 10

Fatal Accident in the Lower Harbour.

FIVE CHILDREN DROWNED.

Intelligence was received at Port Chalmers on Sunday forenoon that a boat containing some 11 persons had overturned in the bay below Acheron Head, familiarly known as Pulling Point, and that several persons were drowned. Mr R. T. Macdonnell, customs surveyor, at once proceeded down the bay in the launch, taking Dr De Lautour with him, and towing a skiff containing Mr John Jackson and several other persons. On reaching the Lower Harbour the launch steamed alongside the barque Lady Dufferin, and made inquiries as to whether anyone on board had' seen the boat. Mr Macdonnell was informed that a boat had passed the ship under sail containing several persons, but they had seen nothing more of her. The launch then steamed round Acheron Head into the little bay which adjoins, and on landing there --the facts of the pase became known. They are as, follow-. Between 9 and 10 in the forenoon Captain James Ferguson, local agent of the Union Steam Ship Company, accompanied by his six children, and Mr and Mrs Arthur Jackson, with their two children, took a waterman's boat for the puipose of paying a visit to Mrs Jackson, sen., the grandmother of the whole of the children. They proceeded down the harbour under sail, and after rounding Acheron Head the weathei 1 became exceedingly squally, the wind veering from N.W. to SW.,and blowing fresh. From what we can gather it appears the sail was wrapped round the" mast prior to the mast being unstepped, when a sudden gust of wind struck the boat, causing her to heel over, and precipitated the whole of the occupants into the water. The children were then placed on the bottom of the boat, but she again rolled over, and the children were again thrown into the water, with the unfortunate result that four of Captain Ferguson's children, named Mary, John, James, and Alexander, and Christina Jackson were^ drowned. Several of the fishermen living \\P the bay, seeing the accident, put off without loss of time, and succeeded in saving Maggie, and Agnes' Ferguson, Mrs Jackson and her daughter Catherine, with Captain Ferguson and Me Jackson. They also recovered the bodies of John and Mary Ferguson, but were unfortunately unable to recover the bodies of James and Alexander Ferguson and Christina Jackson, The survivors, , who were greatly exhausted on being landed, were taken to the house of Mr A- Pirani, one of the fishermen, where they were treated with the utmost attention. On the arrival of Mr Macdonnell and Dr De Lautour the latter gentleman dia everything in his power to resuscitate the bodies of the children John and Mary Ferguson, unfortunately, however, without avail. Mr John Jackson returned to Port Chalmers in the skiff for the purpose of procuring the necessary changes of apparel for the surviving sufferers. We are glad to hear that Mr apt} „ Jackson, with their daughter Catherine and the children Maggie and Agnes Ferguson, are doing well. Captain Ferguson, we are sorry to say, is greatly exhausted and almost prostrate with grief at the untimely death of his children. Great sympathy is «expressed for him throughout Port Chalmers. The unfortunate accident is a severe blow to him following closely upon the death of his wife. Too much praise cannot be given to Mr Macdonnell for the" promptitude displayed by him in proceeding down the harbour the instant he received the news, and remaining there while there was any chance of affording assistan6e, while the kindness displayed by Messrs A. Pirani, A. Solomon, and Wright is beyond praise, as in addition to throwing open their houses for the use of the sufferers, they proceeded in their boats with nets for the purpose of sweeping the- bay in order to recover the missing bodies. FURTHER PARTICULARS, The bodies of Captain Ferguson's children, James and Alexander, were recovered on Sunday evening by Mr Robert Lewis who, in company with Mr A. Pirani and others, were sweeping Dowling Bay with, their nets, and with the bodies of their brother John and sister Mary, ' were brought home to Captain Ferguson's residence on Monday morning.' Theb'pdy pi the child Christina ' Jackson, was discovered by one of her cousins," Miss jtocksonl who was looking down the baß a,nd noticed a ribbon close in to the shore, ap; quainted Mr M. Solomon of this, 'and he at once waded in and found the child lying in about 2ft of water. We are informed that when Mrs Arthur Jackson and Agnes Ferguson w§re landed they were perfectly exhausted, and ha,d it not been for the prompt measures adopted by Mr D. G. Stephens, inspector of works to the Harbour Board, they must have died. Mr Stephens was passing along the Darling Bay road at the time they were landed, and noticing their condition he at once applied restoratives, and adopted the usual measures for the recovery of the apparently drowned, which, thanks to his energy, were successful, and Mrs Jackson was enabled to return to her home on Monday morning. Mr and Mrs Pirani deserve especial praise for their conduct in the matter, as when the alarm was given Mr Pirani's boat was turned bottom up on the beach, and his mates were sleeping in their huts at some distance from his house. He at once ran to the boat, and Mrs Pirani, who was bathing her baby, left the infant in the bath and proceeded to assist her husband in turning over the boat and launching it. Ni We regret to hear that Captain Ferguson is I seriously indisposed, and is debarred from seeing any but the members of his family; • '