FISHING TRAGEDY.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 18797, 9 February 1931, Page 11

FISHING TRAGEDY.

WELLINGTON LAUNCH CAPSIZED. THREE MEN DROWNED. By Telegraph —Press Association WELLINGTON, February 8. Three residents of Island Bay lost their lives in a fishing accident on the lonely coast near Karori stream. Four men left the Bay at 1.30 a.m. on Sunday in the launch Islander, and at about 3 a.m. the launch capsized in Terewhiti Rip. Those drowned were:— Captain 3. Stuart (SO). Harry Stuart (20). R. R. Coppock. The survivor is Alex Stuart (18). When the; launch capsized. Captain Stuart, who was at the wheel, and Coppock, who also was on deck, were swept overboard and drowned. The two sons. Harry and Alex, were trapped inside, one in the engineroom and the other in a bunk in the forepart of the boat. Two hours later, Andrew Tait's launch Norma, sighted the upturned launch, got a dinghy alongside, and found by tapping that the two were alive inside. Leaving two men in charge, Captain Tait hurried back in the Norma to Island Bay. Two launches, the Prince and Ika, with all available fishermen, left the Bay. Shortly after, they reached 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 a heavy sea swept Henry out of reach and he sank, Mrs Stuart was in church, when two fishermen in seagoing clothes disturbed the service with tidings of the husband’s and sons’ deaths. The

widow left the church with her three small children. Captain Stuart was w r ell known as a coastal skipper, his last command being the steamer Kennedy. Mr Coppock was a Wellington business man, and managing director of R. R. Coppock and Coy. He leaves a widow and child.