CAPSIZE OF A MAN-OF-WAR’S BOAT.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XII, Issue 1890, 7 November 1904, Page 5

CAPSIZE OF A MAN-OF-WAR’S BOAT.

A PARTY Ou BLUEJACKETS DROWNED.

PER PRESS ASSOCIATION. Auckland, November 7. On Thursday last a whaleboat belonging to H.M.B. Penguin, while on surveying duty off Kawau Island, was capsized, and the following lost their lives : Lieut. Edden, Seaman Joseph Power, Joseph Brooks, James Richardson, Albert Grant, and Ernest Pusey. A seirch the following day rsvealed portions of wreckage, and on Saturday at noon the boat was found nine miles from the scene of the accident. It was blowing hard from west by south on Thursday afternoon, and it is presumed tbat the boat, in trying to return to tbe Ehip, was caught by a sudden squall off Kawau Island and capsized. In the sea running at the time the men had little chance of their lives, as tho boat (found bottom up) gave no hold.

FURTHER PARTICULARS.

INTERVIEW WITH COMMANDER DAWSON. Auckland, November 7. The officers and crew of H M.S. Penguin arc much affect sd by tbe casualty. On Thursday everything was cheerful on bo«rd the ship, but thenon-appenrai ce of th ’ boat in tbe hard ga e gave rise to a deal of anxiety during the night. With daylight the Fee gum went in search of the missing one- 3 , and there was hope till about Dine o’clock on Friday morning, when portions of wreckage were found and identified as belonging to tbe missing whaleboat. Then with a saddened ship's crew the warship continued the search for further evidence, and about ncou on Saturday the empty boat was picked up nine miles from the channel. Li. uien mt E Jdsn, who was very popular amongst his brother officers and'he crew of the warship, was a native of Soutbsea, England, and was 24 years of age. lie j-iiued tho Penguin when she was commissioned at Sydney m 1908, and had previously seen service on the East Indian and Medditerranean stations. All the men were single. Power was coxwain ofjthe whaleboat, and was looked upon as the most reliable man, in that capacity, aboard. Commander Dawson, interviewed, said he could only surmiso from tbe scanty evidence available tbat the boat, while trying to return to the ship under sail, was 'nken aback by a sudden squall off Kawau Island and capsized. It was blowing hard on Thursday afternoon and a heavy sea was running. He said they would hive a slender chance for their lives when the critical moment came, as tho boat, when upturned, lay deep in the water and gave next to nothing to which drowning men could cling. When found on Saturday the water was washing the keel. Tho idea, hazarded by the interviewer, that some of the men may have reached the shore was met with a shake of the head from Com. rnander Dawson.