A BOATING FATALITY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4672, 16 June 1893, Page 1

A BOATING FATALITY.

News reached Sydney at a very late hour on June 3 of a boating accident in Botany Bay by which six men and a boy were drowned. That morning an open sailing boat, containing seven men and a boy, named, respectively, Henry Turner, fortyfive; Thomas Turner, thirty-uix; John Turner, twenty-one (brothers); James Bennett, thirty three; his son, Herbert, a boy of ten ; A. M'Kechnie, twenty-two; Albert Eales, twenty-four; and Charles Watte, all residents of Pyrmont, went out on a fishing excursion at Kurnell, on the other side of Botany Bay. The. boat reached itu destination safely, but the weather was too stormy for fishing, and after staying awhile the party started on the return journey. The wind was then blowing strongly, and the water was rough. After the boat had got dub into the open and proceeded some, distance across the bay, the wind curried away or entangled Borne of the tackling, and at the same time the boat was struck by a heavy wave and immediately capsized. After struggling in the water for some time all managed to scramble on to the keel. The day was very cold, and the waves continuously broke over them. The men dropped off one by one and were drowned, except* ing Watts, who drifted ashore on the boat in a very exhauated condition, some two or three hours after the capsize. The accident took place about half-past four o'clock. Five of the men drowned were married, and some had children.