RYE HARBOUR TRAGEDY

Patea Mail, Volume XLIX, 21 November 1928, Page 2

RYE HARBOUR TRAGEDY

VILLAGE BE HE FT OF ALEX. FAD FLIGHT OF THE WOMEN. Rye is n most tragic scene as a result of tin; lifeboat tragedy. The village is denuded of menfolk and the distracted women hardly realise the force of the catastrophe. One young wife wandered hatloss on the wind and rain swept beach and sa.w a group weeping’ and asked what they were crying for. She remarked.: “My husband is lute home, but I have dinner in the 00011.” Her friends led her gently homeward. Subscriptions are already coming in from, all over the country. Thirteen bodies have been recovered and will die buried in a single grave. LIFEBELTS WERE WATERLOGGED MUST HAVE BECOME I’FJIiSHF.D The litebeits were waterlogged ami heavy,, and would have prevented the chance of the victims’ reaching shore, said witnesses at the imprest. The bolts would have drowned any man. 'They have not been tested for three years and must have become perished. The Get man steamer Smyrmg which collided with and sank the steamer Alice, has been towed into Flushing Harbour with the crew of the Alice on board. It .was while going to the rescue of lire Alice that the Rye iifeboatmeu perished.