SPEED TRAGEDY.

Waipawa Mail, Volume LI, Issue 112, 16 June 1930, Page 3

SPEED TRAGEDY.

SIR HENRY SEGRAVE KILLED. WHILST ATTEMPTING WORLD’S RECORD. LONDON, June 13. The speed boat Miss England 11. was attempting the world’s record when an explosion caused her to overturn. The Rolls Royce expert, Mr Ilnlliwcdl, is missing, the mechanic, Mi Y ilbrocks, was severely injured, and Sir Heniy Segrave was recovered suffering from a broken arm, a fractured leg and crushed ribs. He died a lew hours later. He had established a reemd of 98.75 miles per hour before the crash.

The boat’s hows were ciippled under the speed when she reappeared or the surface bottom up. There was a great rent in the hull and she sank later. Thousands lining the shores witnessed the tragedy. Miss England had covered a measured mile, turned and travelled a further two miles at almost maximum speed. Sir Henry Segrave seemed to swerve violently and plunge under the water. The spectators screamed and women fainted. Do/mis of speed boats rushed to their assistance. Mr Willcocks was the first rescued, with blood streaming from bis face. A man dived (fully clothed) and brought up Sir Henry Segrave. The search for Mr Halliwell was fruitless.

HOW IT OCCURRED. The disaster occurred while Sir Heniy Segrave was making a trial mi preparatory to the formal atempt on the world’s water speed record on Lake Windei m we. It is earned that Sir Henry SegraveV njuries included two broken arms • broken leg and broken ribs, one of ■vhich perforated his lung. Sir Jenrv took Miss England 11. with ler huge engines out into the lake at wo o’clock and the speed boat start'd on her first trial.

Fitted to her was a bronze protellor brought from London to redace the one broken yesterday. \ ithin a few seconds the boat was ravelling at a terrific speed. Afteovering the measured mile up the like she turned and there was anther terrific burst of speed as she overed a mile down the lake. Fo’ he third time the boat turned and ravelled at almost her maximum peed. The roar of the giant enincs echoed from one shore to n other.

Then she seemed to accelerate sudonly. The great mass of machinery nelnscd in its slim white shell seemrl to swerve violently and plunge eneath the water. A huge mass of bite spray went up and it was sovral seconds before the graceful craft as seen again.

Mr Y illcocks was badly injured ver the eye and one thigh was token. Sir Henry Segrave was irked up by a man named King, who as in one of Ihe motor boats first i the scene. The body of Mr Halwell has not yel been recovered, here was on one else in the boat.