BOATING FATALITY.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XIV, Issue 5056, 31 December 1887, Page 2

BOATING FATALITY.

FOUR MEN DROWNED. A boating aco'dent occurred at Auckland on Monday, which resulted in the drowning of H. J. Bancart, J. Armstrong, H. M. Hammond, and R. J. Debney. They and two others set out in the yacht Truant from St. George's Bay at 7 a m. yesterday intending to go to Matakana. The yacht belonged to young Hammond, and the others left the handling of the vessel to th 9 owner. Strong winda were blowing all day on Monday, and tho sea was consequently very heavy. At twelve o'clock when the vessel was off Gull Point and in Kangitoto channel, aho was struck by a sudden squall and instantly capsized and sank. The occupants* of the yacht at once struck out for the shore, but j only two, A. S. Bancart and G. P. Harper, succeeded in reaching land, the other four above named being drowned. H. P. Bancart, one ef the unfortunate young men drowned in the accident, was an artißt of great ability, and had studied for aome time at the Royal Academy, Lemdon, and at the South Kensington S hool of Arts. He arrived here in May las wife i the other members of his family, and Wria making arrangements to commence arc education in this city. J, Armstrong and H. M. Hammond were well known n athletic circles, and R. J. Debney was an enthusiastic follower of art.