FATAL BOAT ACCIDENT.

Otago Witness, Issue 1970, 22 August 1889, Page 3

FATAL BOAT ACCIDENT.

THREE LIVES LOST. Wellington, August 18. A sad fatal boat accident happened at the heads last night, by which the chief pilot T. E. Simms, and Herbert Cox, end Robert Tatt, two of tbe pilot crew, lost their lives. It appears that shortly after dusk the ship Fleione, from Port Chalmers to Wellington, arrived off the heads, and signalled for a pilot. Simms with a crew of four, comprising the two men drowned and John Henderson and Jamefl Dass. at once put off. A stiff southerly wind was blowing with a short choppy sen, and this being dead ahead little progress was made. Shortly after 7 o'clock the steamer Herald, outward bound to Greymouth, Love in sight and took the pilot boat in tow, All went well until abreast of the outer rock off Barrett's reef, when the boat yawed and capsized As soon as the boat capsized she was released, as the tow line was not made fast. All the men managed to get on the bottom, and shortly afterwards the boat righted herself. For the second time the crew reached the boat, which is a life boat. Immediately the accident occurred Captain Jones returned with the Herald, anr* after considerable difficulty the boat, with the whole of the crew was got alongside. Lines wer« passed over the side, and although caught by all only Henderson and Dass appeared to have sufficient strength to hang on, The other three, either from exhaustion or becoming numb, released their grip and were washed away. A strict search was made, but none of them was seen again. The Herald continued the 6earch for the boat, but was unable to find it, and,returned to town with the survivors. Later in the evening the Eoranui found the boal; abreast of the pilot station, and brought it into harbour. From an examination it was seen thab the steer oar grummet is broken, and if that was done before the accident it would of course leave the boat at the mercy of the waves ; but it is supposed io have occurred after the capsize. Simms leaves a wife and six or seven children ; Cox is a mar* ried man, without family. Tait is a single man, and native of Shetland Islands. Pilot Simms was formerly harbour pilot, and only recently succeeded Pilot Holmes at the heads. Captain Halliday, harbourmaster, proceeded to the scene of the accident in the steamer Mana this morning and made a minute search for the bodies, but no trace was found.