Boat Accident at Waipiro.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume V, Issue 661, 19 September 1891, Page 3

Boat Accident at Waipiro.

AN ENQUIRY NECESSARY, Nxws was received yesterday morning of a boat aooideot at Waipiro, by which two men were drowned. The surf boat was returning to shore after having conveyed Mrs Wallis to the steamer Australia. Messrs Neilson, Liddle, Wallis, Longlands, Gellender, and Talbot were on the boat, which capsized in the eurf. AU got ashore safely but Neilson and Liddle. Mr Wallis nearly lost his own life in trying to eave Neilson ; Gellonder was saved by Mr Oonnelly swimming out with a rope. The people were indignant at no assistance being offered from the steamer, which went on and arrived in the bay last night. On making enquiry we learned that the accident

was observed from the steamer, but it was considered impossible to render assistance. Neilson was well known on the Coast, and Liddle had a great number o! friends in Gisborne, where he had been a prominent member oi the Salvation Army. His brother started up the Coast soon after the sad news was received. A PASSENGER’S NARRATIVEA gentleman who had gone up overland to Waipiro (a representative of Robjohns and Hindmarsh, of Napier) returned to Gisborne by the steamer AusL alia. In an interview last night with a representative of the Stand'rd he said he arrived at Waipiro on Thursday afternoon, and waited for the Australia. She anchored about 8 yesterday, and signalled that it was unsafe to put out a boat from the vessel. Mrs Wal'is and our informant being anxious to get to Gisborne, Mr Wallis signalled that he would take a boat out himself. He manned it with station hands, taking charge of it himself. They left the shore at ha’f past eight, having a terribly rough experience in getting through the eurf. However, Mrs Wallis and the gentleman mentioned got aboard safely, and Mr Longlands took one of the vacant Beats on the homeward trip of the boat. The boat went straight enough until it got into the surf, when it capsized, about 200 yards from the steamer, and about 150 from the shore. Everything could be seen plainly from the steamer, and Mrs Wallis was one of the spectators of the thrilling scene. Mr Wallis appeared to get ashore first without great difficulty, though they could not be certain as to identity. Three men clung to the boat, and two others were battling with the surf—evidently the men who were drowned. The whole population of the township seemed to be on the beach, but there was no boat on shore to render assistance with. Four of the men reached the shore safely, and the other two were lost to Bight. On the steamer reaching Tokomaru an urgent message was sent to enquire who had been drowned. On being questioned as to whether the captain of the Australia ought to have put out a boat, our informant said in such matters a captain was supposed to krow boat, but he himself certainly thought an attempt should have been made to go to the rescue. The captain said they' could give no assistance, but he believed a boat manned by a competent crew might have done service. He could not wonder at the people being indignant that the attempt was not made.