YACHT WRECKED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 96, 26 April 1933, Page 8

YACHT WRECKED

THREE OF CREW DEAD SURVIVOR S NARROW ESCAPE [ Per Press Association. J WAIPUKURAU, April 25. The 27-foot auxiliary yacht Mizpah, eu route to ‘Wellington from Auckland, which port it sailed from last Wednesday, was vzrecked off the Por angahau coast early this morning, resulting, it is feared, in three men losing their lives. One died from exposure after making his way inland when he was washed ashore, and the other two wore evidently drowned. The ves sei contained a crew of four, all young men in their early twenties. The only survivor, C. Harris, of Mt. Eden, Auckland, names the two missing as J. Kel-, laway (captain), and Neville Naylor.i The fourth member is believed to be Jack Hurrell, but the name has not been definitely confirmed. J,t was the latter’s body which was found this’ morning about a mile inshore. He had struggled to land naked and had fallen down in the blinding wind and rain exhausted, dying of exposure. The story is told by the survivor to the effect that early yesterday after noon, the vessel reached a point south of Porangahau, when a southerly gale drove them north despite the anchor. They were unable to hold their course and at two this morning found themselves in the breakers at a point midway between the Porangahau River and Blackhead. The vessel commenced to break up and they were washed overboard. Harris, after efforts to retain a hold on various pieces of wreckage, gripped a buffer box, with which he was washed ashore. He was more dead than alive, but he gained warmth by vigorous rubbing in the sand. Afterwards he made his way inland, running as fast as he could in the darkness, till ho eventually picked up a telephone line, which brought him to Mr. Parker’s home at Table Hill station, owned by Mr. Percy Hunter, three miles distance, at five o’clock this morning. He was greatly exhausted and when seen this afternoon showed marked signs of his terrible ordeal. It will he necessary for him to remain abed for several days. High seas have been running on the coast since yesterday and the beach is strewn with wreckage for some miles. Search parties have been out- all day looking for the two hiissing men, of whom no trace has been found. The owner of the vessel is Mr. T. McAuley, of Wellington, who had recently purchased it. from, a Mr. Lee. of Auckland, now en route to England. The crew had been engaged to deliver the vessel to the new owner.