LOSS OF THE MONARCH.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15496, 27 April 1918, Page 9

LOSS OF THE MONARCH.

LATEST PARTICULARS. TWO BODIES RECOVERED. MESSRS LEWIS AND BEGLEY. ' Two under-vests were found this side of the Wangaehu River yesterday by Mounted Constable McMullen. One belonged to Mr Durie (who was not on board the launch) and the other has not been identified. The latter had a piece of greenstone attached to it. At 2.15 o’clock this afternoon Mounted Constable McMullan, who has been searching the beach for the bodies of the unfortunate men who were drowned, reported to the Police Station that he had found the bodies of Messrs Lewis and Begley at the mouth of the Wangaehu River. The remains were brought into town this afternoon, and an inquest will probably be opened on Monday. It is stated that positive proof has been obtained that the launch went through the south'mole at exactly the same place as the steamer Stormblrd broke through. Splinters of kauri timber and paint have been found on the rocks, and 25 yards further up the beach, on the seaward side, the rudder and shoe have been located. The stringers on the trestle work on the mole bear marks which go to prove that the mast struck the stringers, and a theory has been put forward that it is certain that the little vessel lies on the seaward aide of the south mole. Many theories have been advanced in connection with the mishap. The moat feasible presented so far is that owing to the high wind and heat-y sea the little craft was completely at the mercy of the waves, which dashed her against the mole. Some comment has also been made regarding the Harbour Board’s staff not seeing anything of the Monarch, as she was reported to be outside, standing down towards Kaitoke.