LAUNCH FATALITY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 49, Issue 14890, 3 April 1923, Page 5

LAUNCH FATALITY.

FIVE MEN DROWNED,

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, This Day.

A launch fatality occurred at the Tairua bar on Saturday evening, as the result of which five men lost their lives. There was a terrific sea on the bar that night. The tide was running out and the breakers were driving in, so that the waves crashed on the bar. When about 3 chains from the shore a huge breaker suddenly struck the launch, capsizing it and throwing the occupants into the water. Two successive terrific breakers pounded the launch to matchwood. One of ithe .survivors, T. Jenkins, was washed over the bar and drifted out to sea with the current for about an hour, but was eventually picked up by another Mauncli, the Elida, which also rescued T. Cory-Wright and W. Walsh. FURTHER PARTICULARS. AUCKLAND, This Day. About 9 o ’clock on Saturday evening a resident of Tairua fell overboard from the launch Elida whilecrossing the bar, and in an unsuccessful attempt to rescue the unfortunate man the Auck-land-owned launch Lorraine capsized, and four of the occupants were also drowned. The names of the victims are: — W. S. Southernwood, of Newton road, Auckland, owner <of the Lorraine. H. Chappell, of Valley road, Mt. Eden.

T. Culham, of Hopetoun street, Auckland.

N. Robson, of Arthur street, Ponsonby. Axel Rolandson, who was lost (overboard from the launch Elida.