THREE LIVES LOST

Waikato Times, Volume 113, Issue 18929, 26 April 1933, Page 7

THREE LIVES LOST

WRECK OF A YACHT.

YOUNG MEN DROWNED.

SURVIVOR’S TERRIBLE ORDEAL.

HASTINGS, Tuesday. Disaster overtook the :28ft. keel yacht Mizpah, en route from Auckland to Welington, seven miles south cf Blackhead Point, near Porang'ahau, on the east coast, at two o’clock this morning. The four members of the crew were Aucklanders. One body has been found, two men are missing, and there is.one survivor. Following are the details: — Dead. J. Hurrell, aged 22 years, of Beresford Street, Bayswater, and until recently of Mokai, near Putaruru. James Kelleway, aged about 28, single, of Blockhouse Bay, Avondale. Thomas. Neville Naylor, single, aged 22 years, of 4 Hillside Terrace, Mount Albert. ■ i . Saved. Clifford Harris, aged 29 years, single, of Oakland's Road, Mount Eden. Mr Harris and Mr Hurrell were washed ashore, but Mr Hurrell subsequently collapsed fom exhaustion and his body was found in the sandhills a mile inland. No trace has been found of Mr Kelleway and Mr Naylor. Bad Weather Experienced. The yacht, which was recently sold by Mr'W. A. Lee, of Auckland, to Mr T. McCauley, of Wellington, sailed from Auckland last Wednesday afternoon to be taken delivery 'Cf by her new owner. Fairly good weather was experienced as far as Napier, where rough weather was encountered on Saturday night. Last night, when the yacht was off Cape Turnagain, a southerly gale, which increased to hurricane force, was enoGuntered, and tho vessel was driven back to the vicinity of Blackhead, about 40 miles north. The 'crew were throwing out ballast, with a view to standing' out to sea when the proximity to the- shore was noticed. Caught in the breakers, the vessel was subjected tc a terrifflc buffeting. Washed Overboard. It Is believed Air Hurrell was on deck and was washed overboard. Mr Harris was also thrown into the sea. Apparently Air Kelleway and N Mr Naylor were down below, handing out the ballast. Air. Harris, who was ntit aware of the fact that Air Hurrell had reached the shore, made his way to the residence of Mr Parker, on Air Paul’s station about four miles from the shore.

Mr Murrell's body was found in the sandhills, about a mile from the shore, iie had evidently collapsed from exhaustion. He was traced by footprints found on the sands by searchers who were organised la parties very promptly after the news of the wreck was brought by Air Harris. An Indication of the ordeal, through which Air Hurrell had passed was given by the fact that his clothes had apparently been torn off by tho violence of the seas.

A Terrible Ordeal. Mr Harris was reported to be fairly well under the circumstances. Ills feet were cut and he was exhausted by bis terrible ordeal. Search parties, comprising police and station hands, spent . 'the day searching for the missing men, but without success. The beach Is strewn with wreckage. GRAPHIC STORY BY SURVIVOR. A TERRIFIC STRUGGLE. ALMOST SMOTHERED BY WAVES. HASTINGS, Tuesday. A graphic story of his battle for life in the raging surf was told by the survivor of the Mizpah wreck, Mr Clifford Harris. Mr Harris said a good run was experienced a f ‘.er leaving Auckland last Wednesday rlterncon. The boom carried awo* off Cape Colville, but was recovered and securely lashed. Heavy weather was experienced off Napier and the yacht was hove to all Saturday night. On the following day the staysail was carried away in a gale.

It was decided to stand out to sea. The crew rigged up a sea anchor, which held the boat for some time, lull the seas buffeted the yacht severely and she was at the mercy of the waves. A Howling Southerly. A howling southerly, increasing in intensity, caused the yacht to drift on’ Its course until it had been driven from Cape Turnagain about 4 0 miles north. "We realised our plight was desperate," said Mr Harris. "The bitterly cold gale brought in its wake mountainous seas, making it impossible for us to do anything. The gale rose to hurricane force. We had no idea where wo were. “We saw breakers hut at first thought I hey were just big seas. Wo Pad not realised that wc were so close to shore, "Then everything seemed lo happen at once. We tried to throw out ballast with a view to gelling out !o sea again. Six successive big waves struck us and the water came In all over us. y’fihcn antllicr struck us and I was thrown into Ihe sea. *‘l Thought I Was Done.” "Spars and this of gear were swirling all around. I grabbed a water lank and drifted with it a fair way before being washed mi. I thou glit 1 was done, hut. I managed to grab held of a box. "1 was almost, smothered by ihe waves and had a terrific tight lo reach tiie shore. ! was washed under several limes and one big wave just

about finished me. However, at last 1 got ashore and staggered up the beach.

‘‘l thought I saw one of the other men when 1 was struggling in the sea,” said Mr Harris. "I called cut to him to hang on to something. 11 was bitterly cold but 1 managed to restore my circulation by massaging myself. 1 did not know then that Mr llurrell had also reached the shore. I struck cff inland and eventually reached Mr Parker’s place.” NO TRACE OF BODIES, LARGE SEARCH PARTIES OUT. SURVIVOR MUCH IMPROVED. (by Telegraph.—Press Association.) W'A IPU K IiRAU, Wcdnesday. There is still no trace of the two missing men, James lvclleway and Thomas .Naylor, from (he yacht Mi/.pah, which was wrecked on the I‘orangahau coast early i yesterday moniiug. .Large search parlies were out yesterday and to-day, under the direction of Constable. Moss. A report received from Pcrangahau t.o-day shows-lhat Clifford Harris is feeling ihuvh improved. He is still under the rare of Mrs T. Parker. No inquest for identification has yet been arranged on (lie body believed lo be that i r Jack llurrell, pending Information from the inspector of police at Napier and Auckland.