GALE IN ENGLISH CHANNEL.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18653, 23 August 1930, Page 17

GALE IN ENGLISH CHANNEL.

Worst For Some Time.

AUXILIARY YACHT LOST. United Press Association—By Electrlo Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, August 21. In the worst Channel gale since November the 8-ton auxiliary yacht Islander, broke up in furious seas off St. Austell. The Islander was chartered by Commodore H. King who is thought to be aboard with two passengers and three of a crew. No bodies have been recovered. A lifeboat from Fowey went to the rescue, but was unable to approach. Increasingly heavy seas drove the yacht towards the cliff face, where the coastguards descended and endeavoured vainly to get a rocket lifeline aboard. They heard screams from women trapped in the cabin and saw a man come on deck, who dived off and was swallowed up immediately in the raging sea. The yacht rapidly became a total wreck.

TIDAL WAVE STRIKES YACHT. ALL ABOARD PERISH. British Official Wireless RUGBY, August 21. Commodore King, M.P., for South Paddington, who had held a number of posts in the Conservative Government, has perished in a yachting disaster off the coast of Cornwall. He chartered the yacht Islander, for a holiday cruise, and aboard with him were one of his daughters, Commander Searle, of the Royal Naval Volunteer Service, Surgeon-Captain Bailey, medical officer of His Majesty’s ship President, Captain Glazebrook (skipper), and two deck hands. A gale was raging, and the night falling when the yacht was driven on to the rocks ill Lanlivet Bay, near Polperro. A Fowey lifeboat went out, but could not approach the vessel. A life line was fired over the yacht and two men aboard were seen desperately hanging on to the life line, but it gave way. In terrific seas a tidal wave caught the vessel and altered its position, flinging it against the rocks. One man was seen to dive from the yacht, and begin to swim to the shore, but he disappeared under the water. The Fowey lifeboat strove for two hours to get near the yacht, but the heavy seas and dangerous rocks proved too formidable. The yacht was pounded to destruction, and all aboard were drowned. Commodore King was one of the most versatile men in the Conservative Party, and was regarded as destined to hold a high place in some future Conservative administration. He was 53 years of age, and still young as politicians go. He had been Junior Lord of the Treasury, Financial Secretary to the War Office, and in the last Conservative Administration was in charge of the Mines Department. Before he entered upon his Parliamentary career, he took part in the defence of Antwerp served in the Gallipoli campaign, and was with the Royal Naval siege guns in Flanders. In reference to the wireless message, Mrs King states that her daughter was not aboard the yacht.