The Late Boat Accident.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XIX, Issue 1901, 12 November 1886, Page 3

The Late Boat Accident.

following Tend on of tfao accident which »t the Heithcote Eat aery, near Ouiatohnnh, is wry different to that pretelegraphed On the afternoon of the Prince of Wales’ Birthday six yoaog people—Willi.m Stewart, 34, Charles Cotton, 16, Stewart's sister, Banna, 80, Cotton's sister, Kate, 20, and Xdith, 6, and Loosia Bossel, 18—all residents of Avonside, were returning in a boat from Fisherman’s Flat, Heatbcote, Estuary, when the strong nor’wester caused the boat to roll, and the water began to wash in. One of the girls, frightened, sprang to her feet, and the boat toned over. They all clang to tbe boat, bat their weight ceased it to torn partly over again. The three eldest girls ■oon lost their hold and were drowned. Stewart lost his nerve when hie sifter sank, ud lot go, drifting out with the tide till picked op by two fishermen, Williams and Lendros, who live three quarters of a mile from the the spot, and on being told of the accident by two boys who saw it. started in a boat to their neeae. Cotton clung to tbe boat supporting his;little sister, and both were picked np. The latter, however, was dead. Several other fishermen put out to the rescue, but the other,.<gitls had disappeared. Kate Cotton’s body was recovered about 7 pm. and Louisa Bnisei's half an hour later. The joong men|hsve recovered from the effects of their immersion, though almost unconscious when, rescued.