Melanesia.

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume 27, Issue 8, 1 August 1937, Page 4

Melanesia.

Final Details Of Mr West's Death. At what the boys say was 0 probably about 3 a.m. on the Tuesday the boat was caught broadside on by a big wave, which turned her.completely over. Mr West was lying m the stern m his rainproof, covered with a sail from the boat wrecked m December, 1935, at Utupua), with one of the boys lying alongside— David Kau, of Manbahiana, Santa Cruz. The boatswain was forward, bailing. The overturning took place so quickly that none had time to do anything and all were thrown into the sea with the boat on top of them. The boatswain says that he managed to catch hold of the bowsprit, and although once washed off, managed to regain his hold. Some little time later his feet touched bottom and he realised he was near or on a reef or sand spit. Having got clear he found three others of the party already on the reef- — Patteson W., of Nepia, Santa Cruz; John Still Pelau, of Tonga, Reef Islands, and the boy David. But there was no sign of Mr West or the other boy, Matthias M., of Nea, Santa Cruz. It was pitch dark at the time and they were unable to see anything or even to stand up owing to the force of the "wind.