FATAL BOAT ACCIDENT AT WELLINGTON.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8611, 24 October 1889, Page 2

FATAL BOAT ACCIDENT AT WELLINGTON.

MISS SPACEMAN'S ACCOUNT OF THE ACCIDENT. A PLUCKY GIRL. [PEB PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Wellington, October 24. — In the course of an interview with Miss Sarah Spackman (agod 19), the only survivor of the boat accident on Tuesday, she stated that they left Petone before 7 o'clock, and about 1 7.40 the boat capsized, owing, she believes, to the boat jibing in a squall. All three occupants got safely on the boat, she helping Stewart, who was a rather delicate man. They cried lustily for help, but saw none of the boats sent out to rescue them. After half an hour Stewart's strength gave out, and he fell back into the water, and was never seen again. L Gum, who was a strong, powerful young man, showed signs of exhaustion after being an hour on the boat, and fell across the bottom with his head almost touching the water. Miss Spackman pulled him up and said, " Be a man; hang on like me ! " He, however, was too far gone, and a few minutes later fell off; and Miss Spackman saw him floating alongside the overturned craft for some time, but could do nothing to help him. For three hours after this Miss Spackman, who was sitting straddle across the boat, was by herself, and apparently with little hope of being rescued, and was fast drifting towards the Heads. At last the Petono Naval cutter came near, and Miss Spackman called, "Shall I throw you the painter!" The men called to her to cling to the boat, and they would come alongside-; whichthey did, and took her ashore. Miss Spackman says she feels very little effect from the exposure, but her left arm and right leg are a little bruised. John Gum was a single man, about 24 years of age. James Stewart was a widower, with three children, and has friends at Cambridge.