DROWNING OF THREE MEN

Taranaki Daily News, 9 February 1931, Page 4

DROWNING OF THREE MEN

LAUNCH CAPSIZED IN RIP FATHER, SON AND FRIEND LOST. SURVIVOR’S TERRIBLE ORDEAL. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. Three residents of Island Bay lost their lives in a fishing accident on the lonely 7 coast near the Karori stream. Four men left Island Bay at 1.30 a.m. to-day in the launch Islander and about 3 a.m. capsized in the Terawhiti Rip. Those drowned are:

Captain J. Stuart, 50 years. Harry Stuart, 20 years. R. R. Coppock. The survivor is Alec Stuart, IS years. When the launch capsized Captain Stuart, who was at the wheel, and Coppock, who was also on deck. Were both swept overboard and drowned. Two of Captain Stuart’s sons, Harry and Alec, were trapped inside, one in the engineroom and the other in a bunk in the forepart of the boat. Two hours later Mr. Andrew Tait’s launch, Norina, sighted the upturned launch. Air. Tait got a dinghy alongside and found by tapping that two were alive inside. Leaving two men in charge, he hurried back in the Norma to Island Bay. Two launches, Prince and Ika, with all the available fishermen, left the bay, and shortly after reaching the upturned boat the Islander righted itself, throwing the two entrapped men out into the choppy sea. One of the rescuers managed to secure the youngest brother with a boathook, but the heavy sea swept Henry out of reach, and he Sank with one arm stretched above his head 20 yards away. The survivor says the air was very thick before the boat righted and liis head'ached badly. He saw his brother before he sank and he was smothered in oil from the engine.

Mrs. Stuart was in church when two fishermen in seagoing clothes disturbed the service with tidings of her husband’s and son s deaths. The widow left the church with her three small cildren. Captain Stuart was well known as a coastal skipper, his last command being the steamer Kennedy. He retired, but took up fishing with his two sons. He was a prominent member of the Shetland Society. Mr. Coppock was a Wellington business man and managing director of R. R. Coppock and Company. Ho leaves a widow and a child.

The tug Terawhiti put to sea, 'but was too late \to be of material assistance. The Islander was towed tb Island Bay this afternoon.