TRAGEDIES OF THE SEA

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 17951, 1 December 1932, Page 4

TRAGEDIES OF THE SEA

MAN WASHED OVERBOARD

MYSTERY OF MISSING COOK

SUVA, Nov. 9,

Believed to have been taken by a shark when ho was about to be picked up after having been washed overboard from a cutter, Poe, a half-caste Chinese member of the crew ol the auxiliary cutter Eleanor, was reported missing when the cutter returned to Suva late on Sunday night. The Eleanor, which carries a crew of seven, and is commanded by Captain Waisaki, was passing between Naseli and Gau at a point about 10 miles from land early on Sunday morning when the mainsail ripped. The cutter’s engine was started and the crew commenced to take the sail in. A fresh wind was blowing and there was a fairly steep sea running. Poe jumped on to the house to pass a lashing when he was caught by the roll of the vessel and thrown overboardThe cutter's way was checked and she was at once put astern, a lifebuoy being thrown overboard at the same time. After a while the men on board heard his voice calling through the darkness and leaning over the counter the captain shouted back to him. Poe said that lie was all right and kept calling in order to guide the vessel to him. In the confusion of the sea and wind, however, it was difficult to pick the direction, and it is thought that about half an hour elapsed before those on board decided that they were getting closer. Suddenly, lie cried out, “I m finished . I’m finished!” and then there was silence. Though the Eleanor cruised about the spot until 7 o’clock, no sight or sound of him was seen or heard again. When the vessel returned to Suva the captain gave it as his opinion that Poe had been pulled down by one of the sharks which are said to bo numerous in that locality. Another tragedy which has in it an element of mystery occurred on the previous day. Shortly after the auxiliary ketch Tui Labasa cleared from Levuka for Labasa the body of the ship s cook, an Indian named Pana, was found washed up on the beach close to Levuka township. Communication with the ship when it reached Labasa established the fact that the cook was seen walking ashore on Friday evening. As ne did not return, the vessel delayed its departure until after 5 a.m. on Saturday. Although the body was found m the water the medical examination reycgls the fact that, the man did not die .rcm drowning. At the same time, an examination failed to discover any rnaits of violence. The matter is at present heiiiß investigated by the police. Auckland Herald. _____