SIX DROWNED

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 509, 12 November 1928, Page 1

SIX DROWNED

YACHTING TRAGEDY AT DUNEDIN BOAT CAPSIZED IN SQUALL (Special to THE SUN) DUNEDIN, To-day. Six men, including a father and his two sons, were drowned in the Lower Harbour yesterday afternoon, when the 16-foot yacht Duke capsized in a sudden squall off Quarantine Island. Victor Ruell, of North-East Valley, was the only one rescued. The victims, all of whom lived at Kaikorai Valley, were: James Jeffrey, aged 55. Alexander Jeffrey, 20. Robert Jeffrey, 19; both sons of James Jeffrey. Archibald Bell, 24. James Bell, 20. Sidney Alexander Harcourne, 21. The yacht, which was owned and sailed by Mr. James Jeffrey, an expert yachtsman, with many years of experience with sailing ships in the West of Scotland, was beating up against a south-west wind in the narrow channel which divides Quarantine Island from the mainland. Without warning the boat was struck by a heavy squall and capsized. Harcourne and Robert Jeffrey disappeared almost immediately. A strong tide was running. Archibald Bell, who was a good swimmer, struck out for the shore, but was unable to reach it. The others clung to the overturned boat. James Bell was soon afterwards swept off the boat by a wave and was not seen again. BANDSMAN’S BRAVERY In the meantime a ferry boat, the Waireka, came round the point. The heavy head wind made it difficult to manoeuvre the ship. The crowd on board became wildly excited and rushed about the deck for a time hindering the work of rescue. Life-belts and life-jackets were thrown overboard. Lifeboats were launched, but could make no headway against the wind. A rope was thrown to Mr. Due’ll, who caught it and was helped on board. One of the bandsmen, Mr. Stanley Grubb, dived overboard and reached Mr. James Jeffrey, who was struggling in the water, and swam with him to a dinghy, rowed by Mr. Wiseman. Mr. Jeffrey was unconscious when he and his rescuer were taken on board, and died without regaining consciousness. His rescuer suffered from the extreme cold. Nothing was Seen of the other victims of the tragedy.