BOAT CAPSIZES.

Thames Star, Volume LXI, Issue 17041, 22 November 1927, Page 5

BOAT CAPSIZES.

TWO MEN MISSING

(By Telegraph—irress Association.) AUCKLAND, Nov. 22. Tragedy befall a 12ft. mullet yacht about half an hour after it weighed anchor at Milford at four o clock on Saturday afternoon, a gust of wind suddenly filling the sail ]ust as the tack was being changed, with the result that the three men aboard were thrown into the water. For hours they clung o the upturned boat, and not until darkness descended did they venture from it. Realising their only hope ot survival was in the success of an attempt to swim the miles separating them from dry land they left the rigging. Chilled with the biting wind and almost numbed by th eicy water they discarded their clothing altogether and two swam at an angle to the wind for Rangitoto Island, while the third struck out for Motutapu Island with a following wind. But as far as is known only one man gained the objective, the other two, it is feared, being drowned. ' Details of the missing are as iollow: * , „ . , William Williams, ; aged 28, married, residing with his wife and family at Purchase Road, Takapuna, a good yachtsman and athlete, who was once a New Zealand League football repreSGlittltlVO James Bowman, aged 35, Takapuna Borough Council employee, married, residing with his wife and family at PuPuke Road, Takapuna. The sole survivor, Stanley John Easdown, aged 48, a married man, landed on Rangitoto at 9 p.m. on Saturday, and was on the island all Sunday and Mondav, arriving finally at the Motu quarry. Mr. Vail, the owner, clothed and fed him and then attempted to make Devonport in a small dinghy. The steamer Clansman picked them no and sent a wireless message to Auckland. A boat has been sent to search for Williams and Bowman.