BOATING ACCIDENTS

Otago Witness, Issue 3006, 25 October 1911, Page 32

BOATING ACCIDENTS

FATALITY AT FOXTON

SEVEN LIVES LOST.

PALMERSTON N., October 22

A terrible boating accident occurred at Tewharangi, a seaside resort at Foxton Heads, this morning. A large number of Palmerston people have cottages there, where they stay during week ends and over the summer. These have motor launches on the river, and a party of ladles and hildren were going out this morning to Mr Roberts's motor launch. There was a sharp breeze and jobble, and the dinghy was very much overladen, and capsized and sank before any boats could be launched from the shore. All were drowned. They were: Mrs Percy Roberts, of Palmerston North and her two sons ; Mrs Groves, wife of Mr Groves, motor expert, Palmerston, and one child; Miss Faaxny o'SuHivan, daughter of Captain O'SaiUivan, Defence Department, Wellington; Miss Arnold, of Nelson. ADDITIONAL PARTICULARS. PALMERSTON N;, October 23. Further particulars of the boating catastrophe at Foxton Heads show that the following were drowned : Agnes Isabella Grove, wife of Mr Eugene Grove, motor expert at Dunk and Pringle's; aged 34 years. I" Rex Eugene Grove, six years. John Hardy Grove, three years. Fanny Robert, wife of Percy Robert, uniform and regalia manufacturer. Leslie Robert, aged 10 years. Douglas Robert, aged eight. Florence Arnold, 24 years (late of Eltham.

Grace O'Sullivan, aged 22 years, daughter of Major J. O'Sullivan, Director of Equipment Stores, ' Defence Department, Wellington. The party had arranged for a motor launch picnic. The morning broke windy, and there was a : fresh in the river, against which the wind raised a considerable sea. It was decided that it was too rough for the ladies and children, but the men went for a cruise. About 11 o'clock they came back, and then decided to take a rest on board, while the launch held off the shore in the tideway, with Chris. Robert, eldest son of Mr Percy\Robert, and Cam Turner aboard. Mr Robert and Mr Grove proceeded to bring the women and children on board in a small fiat-bottomedjdinghy. The rowers had three chains to cover to the launch, but they did not allow sufficiently for the rush of the tide consequent on the fresh in the river. Sweeping towards the heads as a result, they missed the launch, and were swept, down with the tide and out into rougher water. In their effort to recover the boat swamped, and all the occupants were thrown into the water. "

Not many persons witnessed the accident, but Messrs Young and Langley, who saw the heavily-laden boat go out, were apprehensive of danger, and launched another boat. While pulling out they saw the tragedy occur. They only succeeded in saving Mr Robert, senior. Meanwhile Messrs Mounsey and Torstonson went out in-- another boat, and rescued Mr Grove.

Five bodies—those of M.rs Grove, Mrs Robert, Miss Arnold, and the two children Grove were recovered, but restorative measures proved futile. Mr Groves and Mr Robert were both exhausted when they were rescued.

NELSON, October 23.

Miss Arnold was the second daughter of Mr W. Arnold, of Spring Grove. She had been spending a holiday with friends at Palmerston. Mrs Grove was a daughter of Mr John Mead, of Waiiti, and Mass Arnold was her great friend for manj years. THE INQUEST. PALMERSTON N., October 23. The inquest on the five bodies recovered was held at the Fqxton Beach to-day, before Mr Eraser, ' coroner. Sub-inspector Norwood represented the police. Evidence was given by George Langley, boarding-house keeper.- He said he saw Percy Robert and Eugene Grove, with Mrs Grove and two children, Mrs Robert and two sons, Miss Arnold, and Miss o'Sullivan, set out in an 18ft flat-bottomed boat to get to the launch, which was at anchor about 100 yards off, two youths— Crispanus Robert and Campbell Turnerbeing on board the launch waiting for the rest of the party. The oars were small, and the rowlocks too large. There was only a few inches of freeboard, and it was blowing freshly, and with a fresh running. Mr Robert was rowing, and the oars slipped from the rowlocks, Mr Grove recovering them. They missed the launch, and we're carried towards the Heads. One of the ladies became excited at the situation. Mr Grove took Mr Robert's place at the oars, and the water began to come over the" side, whereupon the ladies leaned to the other side. Mr Robert stood up and waved his hands for assistance, at the same time crying to the launch for help, and Mrs Robert also cried for h,elp. The boat then went over. Captain Moun-

sey* W- Kirk, and others ashore saw the danger, and ran to launch a boat. W. Young and Langley reached it first and put off before the other boat capsized. Captain Mouneey and Kirk procured another boat, and broke into a shed for oars, with which they also went out. While LaJigley's boat was rowing out Mr Robert's boat went down. They found Mr Robert insensible in the bottom of the beat, and being unable to get the heavy man into their frail craft they pulled him over to their shore, and with difficulty restored him to consciousness. As the boat went over Mr Grove seized Mies Arnold, but was separated from her in the rough, water, and swam to the launch, being pulled on board and assisting the boys to go to the rescue. Chris Robert sprang overboard to help his mother and reached her but not being strong was unable to hold her up, and was with difficulty got back to the launch, which recovered Miss Arnold's body. Mouinsey and Kirk meantime recovered Mrs Robert, Mrs Grove, and one of the Grove boys, all floating face down in the water.

As Mr Grove was helping to lift the bodies on board the launch from Mounsey's boat he suddenly recognised that the body he was handling was that of his wife, an he cried, " Oh, God ! Oh, God ! My wife !" and became insensible. He is now completely broken down, and ■ his evidence was taken in bed, as was that of Chris Robert. Mr Robert senior was too ill for his evidence to be taken, and is in a serious condition. After he was brought to' subsequent to his rescue the rescuers were compelled to tell him that his wife and children were safe, to pacify him.

The coroner returned a verdict, "That the deceased came to their deaths by drowning in the Manawatu Biver on October 22, accidentally and by misadventure. " He added a rider that he was of opinion that more care should be exercised in regulating the number of passengers to be carried in rowing boats. The five bodies were brought up from Foxton to-night by roadj coffins having been sent down during the day. "The funerals of four will be held here on Wednesday, and the body of Miss Arnold will be taken to Nelson to-morrow.

The bodies of Miss Grace O'Sullivan, of Wellington, Leslie Robert, aged 18, and Douglas Robert, aged eight, have not been recovered. The search is being continued, bat the bodies may have been swept to eea.

steam tender capsized, four men Drowned. . WELLINGTON, October 23. Four lives were lost by a boat accident near Cape Turnagain, on the east coast. The steamer Fanny was loading wool from the beach for the Wangaehu Station by means of a tender, and while the tender was making a trip with 16 bales cm board her engine stopped, and the craft turned broadside on to the waves, and was upset. All the four men on board were drowned. Their names are : \ A. L f Roff, 23 years. A. Jpaneen, 26 years. , 0. Olsen, 26 years. . . J. Jorgensen, 23 years. Two clung to a bale of_. wool for some time, till it became taturated and sank, and the other two clung to the boat, but were washed off. The Fanny's lifeboat was lowered;, but could not reach the men in time. After cruising about without result, she went on. to Napier, and i 6 to visit the scene of the accident again tomorrow morning, though there is no hope. All the men, who are single, belong to Napier. According to a statement by Captain Shirley, master of the Fanny, after the two men who were clinging to the bale of wool disappeared the two remaining members of the crew clung to the bow of the boat, which was stranded on some rocks in a vertical position. Shortly afterwards a sea broke over the boat, ing the men off. As soon as the mishap was seen a. lifeboat was launched from the Fanny and pulled in the direction of the catastrophe, but none -of the missing men was seen. When the sTirf boat turned turtle there were also some Maoris in it, but they sprang into the eea and swam ashore. The four men who were drowned are all known to have been good swimmers. Roff was a Scotchman, and the others were Norwegians. The x accident was witnessed from the shore by a number of people, but they were unable to give assistance. The Fanny returned this morning to search for the bodies.