SUPPOSED YACHTING DISASTER

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXVI, Issue 13343, 3 April 1911, Page 5

SUPPOSED YACHTING DISASTER

■-, /■■'£: , - IlifM - LIVES. '; 1 ,-Jh, ((Press' Association.l I ■ April 3. It.is feared that a serious boating disaster -occurred in the Manukau Har- - bout' yesterday afternoon. A heavy i north-east gale was blowing, when at dusk a message was sent from North Vi Manukau Heads that a yacht cruising ' - near Puponga Point had capsized in Huia Bay and that the sea was so rough ■ ■ that there was little chance of any of the ■ ' crew' escaping. The police endeavoured j to send a launch down to the scene, but the water was so rough that the owners of the largest launch would not venture out, and the idea had to bo abandoned. So far as is known the only vessel missing from her moorings last night was the Valkyrie, a 35ft. centreboard yacht, of the Mullet boat type, owned and built by Taylor Bros., of Onehunga. Those known to be aboard this boat were : Emerson Taylor, John Leahy, and Robt, Cross. The yacht left Onehunga for a -I week-end cruise. Several launches which were out last night are presumed to be sheltering along the harbour. 4 The yacht Valkyrie capsized off Huia wharf in a squall. A resident saw the occurrence and went to the rescue in a motor launch. He picked up throe men, who weer none the worse for their ducking, and the body of the fourth man, : j' named Emerson Taylor, aged 20, who had * evidently been injured as the ,yacht cap-, > sized. His companions supported him till assistance arrived, but life was extinct. .