Newspaper Report
The following is an account published in the Evening Post newspaper Wellington New Zealand in January 1897.
SHOCKING ACCIDENT IN EVANS BAY
A PLEASURE BOAT CAPSIZES
THREE PERSONS DROWNED
The New Year holiday has not passed off without leaving a trail of sorrow amidst the joy and mirth with which it was ushered in. An accident happened in Evans Bay yesterday afternoon of a particularly distressing kind, and as a consequence many who welcomed the first day of the New Year with laughter saw it close in tears.
The accident referred to happened to a party of pleasure-seekers who chose Evans Bay as the scene of their outing, and who, while enjoying a sail on the waters of the bay, had their boat capsized and three of their number drowned before the eyes of the horror-stricken friends and relations on the beach a short distance away.
It appears that the picnic party in question, which was a large one, had gone round the bay to Mr. Hazlewood's, well known here for many years past in connection with the sailmaking business of Messrs. Hazlewood and Williams but who latterly has found employment at the carpet establishment of Messrs. Kirkcaldie and Stains on Lambton-quay. The picnickers appear to have been spending a very happy time in the ways that picnickers usually do, when it was suggested that they should have a sail in the harbour. Mr. Hazlewood being owner of a boat. No sooner said than done. Mr. Hazlewood was a capital hand in a boat, and party after party of the picnickers was taken out for a sail or a row, generally both. Several trips were made in this way, the boating parties deriving fresh pleasure therefrom, and the demand for places in the boat consequently being large.
The trip which ended so unexpectedly and sadly was commenced shortly before 4 o'clock. There were in the boat this time Mr. Hazlewood, Mr. John Wilson, carpenter, brother of Mr. A. Wilson, jun., the well-known storekeeper of Riddiford-street, the Misses Mary and Jessie Wilson, sisters of Mr. John Wilson; Bertie (14 years) and Eva Webb (13 years) children of Mr. J. J. Webb, of Constable-street; Annie (13 years) and Jessie Craig (7 years) of Normanby-street -- 10 in all; a pretty full load for a lightly built 19ft boat.
It will be seen from this list that with the exception of Messrs. Hazlewood and Wilson all the occupants of the boat were women and children. Mr. Hazlewood, it seems, was the only one of the party who knew anything about the handling of a boat.
The party rowed from the point of embarkation up to the Patent Slip Wharf, a distance of about 400 or 500 yards, with the intention of sailing down with the wind, the boat being provided with a huge lug sail. The trip up was safely accomplished, and on arriving at the wharf the sail was set by Mr. Hazlewood, and the boat pushed off again. A fresh northerly breeze was blowing at the time, and somehow, after casting off, everything did not work as expected, and the boat drifted very close to one of the dolphins just off the end of the Slip Wharf. In trying to clear this dolphin the boat came close up to the wind and jibed. The sail caught in a gust of wind, and passing rapidly from one side of the boat to the other, dipped into the water, rose a little, was caught by the wind, dipped into the water again, and most of the party being on that side of the boat she could not recover herself, and the water rushing in over the stern portion of the craft, she gradually heeled right over, and the whole of the occupants were in a moment struggling in the water for their lives.
The accident occurred about 150yds from the shore, and right in view of the other members of the picnic party and many others. The brothers and sisters, in one case the mother, and other relations who witnessed it, were in a terrible state of fear and excitement, and their distress and pleadings were pitiable to hear and see. Of course steps were at once taken to go to the assistance of the sufferers. A boat was on the beach, but there were no oars or rowlocks, and it was in consequence useless.
Fortunately three little children of Mr. Paterson, the foreman at the Patent Slip Works, had seen the boat capsize, and they rushed in and told their father. Paterson, needless to say, immediately and quickly as possible dashed down to the beach, unlocked a shed where there were oars and rowlocks, and went to the rescue. The eagerness of others present to render assistance, however, caused a little delay. So many were desirous of manning the boat that, had they all been taken, there would have been no room for any of the rescued party. Ultimately the boat was pushed off, and proceeded as rapidly as possible to the assistance of the boat-wrecked party, who were still to be seen clinging to the boat and gradually drifting further and further away from the shore.
It was indeed lucky that so much despatch had been used, for some of them who were clinging to the upturned boat were in a very exhausted state when the rescuers arrived, and one of them, Miss Mary Wilson, was only pulled into the boat just as she was sinking. A few seconds later and she would have been drowned; Mabel Wilson was also well-nigh insensible.
It was found that there were seven of the party clinging to the boat - namely, Mr. Wilson, Misses Mary Wilson, Jessie Wilson (Mr. Wilson's sister), Mabel Wilson, Bertie and Eva Webb, and Jessie Craig. Though much exhausted, these were overall safely rescued, and are now almost entirely recovered.
Though a thorough search was made no trace could be found of Mr. Hazlewood, Annie Craig, or Jessie Wilson (Mr. John Wilson's daughter). What became of them when the boat capsized does not appear to have been noticed by any of the others in the party. Mr. Wilson, the only person likely to be able to render assistance to his fellow-sufferers, helped his youngest child, and when he had succeeded in placing her where she could hold on to the boat, he could see nothing of the three missing ones. It is surmised that they must have been caught by the sail, and by it held under the water and drowned.
The men who were saved were fortunate in quickly getting hold of the boat after she capsized, for a strong ebb tide was flowing at the time. After being brought ashore they were shown every kindness by Mrs. Weighton Holland, Mrs Paterson and others. It goes without saying that very wide and very deep felt sympathy is expressed for those upon whose homes the New Year has cast this dark shadow.
There is no doubt that the accident was in part due to the fact that there was practically no ballast in the boat - nothing more than a fair-sized piece of rock.
A systematic search was made for the bodies by the members of the Torpedo Corps last evening by means of drags, but without success. This morning, however, Sergt.-Major Ramsay sent out four constables and dragging operations were continued, with the result that first the body of Mr. Hazlewood and then that of the young girl Jessie Wilson were recovered. That of Mr. Hazlewood had been largely disfigured by fish.
Mr. Hazlewood leaves a wife and grown-up family. An inquest will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday.
Inquest Notes:
Typed by Eppie Murton from copper plate manuscript.
CORONER'S REPORT SATURDAY 2nd JAN 1897
William Wilson being sworn saith that I am a Carpenter residing in Wellington I know Mr Hazlewood the deceased well and I am Uncle to the girl Jessie Wilson she was 8 years of age last birthday.
Hazlewood was about 50 I have identified both bodies as by the jury in the Morgue partly by the clothing, partly by size and partly by features I have no doubt whatever they are the bodies of William Hazlewood and Jessie Wilson - I was not present at the accident.
William Wilson
INQUEST RESUMED 4th, JAN. 1897
Jessie Isabella Wilson being sane saith I identify the body was lying in the Morgue as that of Annie Craig by the clothes and her size and the bits. I know the family well and I was sure the body is that of Annie Craig. A little after 4 o'clock on Friday 1 January Mr Hazlewood took off a party in his boat from Happy Hours Evans Bay. I was on board. Also my brother John Wilson, Jessie Isabel Wilson 8 years old my brother's daughter Annie Craig aged 14, Isaac Craig about 11. Mabel Wilson 6. My sister Mary Anne full grown, Eva Webb 12 and Birtie Webb 14.The boat was an open one and one with a small quarter deck it seemed safe enough and as far as I seen appeared safe we rowed to the slip and then Mr Hazlewood put up the sail and sailed along the shore to where we started from in about two minutes I saw Mr Hazlewood put his hand up apparently to prevent the sail hitting the dolphin and in a moment the boat was over and us in the water. I held two of the children for a while and I saw the boat bottom up. I let go the children and got on the bottom of the boat. Eva Webb was one of the children I held I do not know who the other was. I called out and my brother and two Webbs got on the boat and it turned over again.
It seemed to me a long time before help came when Mr Patterson's boat took us off. I was able to walk when I got on shore. I had been across with two others a short time before in the same boat with Mr Hazlewood and my brother I knew he had been a sailor and accustomed to sailing a boat and had no fear. I did not think the wind ? high and there was plenty of room for the whole party on the boat. I knew when the seven only were picked up in Patterson's boat, that they were drowned.
JOHN WILSON
John Wilson being sane saith I am a Carpenter residing in Newtown and brother of the previous Witness the girl Jessie Isabella Wilson was my daughter the party in the boat was as described by my sister. Hazlewood and I were the only men on the boat. I am accustomed to rowing but not sailing. Hazlewood was a sailmaker thus been to sea a good bit and I always understood he was an experienced boatman he was quite sober and is a teetotaller. The boat was a 14 ft and seemed quite large enough for the party She did not seem lower in the water when the party were all in. There was just a nice breeze not too heavy for a boat of her size. After we left go the slip wharf in about 2 minutes I saw Hazlewood steering straight towards a dolphin about 150 to 200 yards from the shore and I sang out to him to keep off.
I did not think he could see it for the sail he turned her sharp round the wind caught the tip of the sail and the boat toppled over. There was about 1 cwt stone in for ballast the bum of the ?? struck the dolphin Hazlewood caught it in his hand and slung over his head. I can't say whether he lost the tiller but cannot understand if it did not why he should have turned her round so sharply he suddenly seemed to have lost control over her.
I am satisfied it was a pure accident or at most an error of judgement. I do not think there was any incompetence in taking the party in such a boat nor was there I think too much wind to sail her safely. We did not intend to sail over but to sail back along to where we started along the shore.
After the accident I swam and little Eva Webb got hold of my coat and I got her to the boat when the boat turn up we got into her she was then right side up and Hazlewood was hanging on the gunwhale and all the others she then toppled over and I think the sail caught Hazlewood and the two little girls then, since drowned as neither came up again. Patterson's boat took us off in about ten minutes..
JOHN PATERSON
John Paterson being sane saith I am a shipwright residing at Evans Bay. I did not see the accident but about half past four o'clock on 1 January my children saw Mr Hazlewood's boat go over and ran home and told me. I hurried there as quickly as possible round to the shed and got oars and rowlocks for the boat. I found these men seated in my boat seat. I considered it too many but decided not to waste time, one rowlock slipped out of my hand and we had only one rowlock. I think we were alongside the boat inside 7 minutes they were clinging to the boat in the water we went to to the furthest away Miss Wilson who was floating head downwards and got her in then we got the girl Webb and two others, we then went to the sunken boat and got the others there. Hazlewood was nowhere in sight we had as many in then in the boat as she could carry.
Mr Wilson was out of her and holding on to the side. I think the boat was a 15 or 16 ft boat, I think she needed to be very carefully handled with ten people on board, the boat gybed no doubt suddenly and then if precautions were not taken as would be by experienced persons she would be bound to go over. Hazlewood was an experienced man and thoroughly sober.
After I landed the party I got another rowlock and went out with those others from Kilbirnie we turned the boat over and made sure there was no one entangled and pulled up the Bay to see that not one was floating but found no one. We picked up their hats Mr Hazlewoods and the two girls. The three men who went with me just did everything that was possible to be done quite quietly and coolly and did not need to be told.
John Patterson
GEORGE DOUGLAS HUNTLY
George Douglas Huntly being sane saith I am a bricklayer residing at Kilbirnie. About 4 o'clock on Friday afternoon 1 Jan I was at Evans Bay I saw Hazlewoods boat and Mr Wilson sailing it out. I was on the Slip wharf at the time. After that my little boy called me to tea and I went 136 yards towards Kilbirnie from Mr Pattersons jetty. There was a party of people (on land) saw. (or 15) minutes before the accident I did not notice a sail up, then my little boy ran to me and said "Father the boat's over" I looked out I saw the boat over and people struggling in the water. I ran towards Mr Patterson and saw him ahead of me when I got down the boat was launched by two men from the d I got in and then saw Mr Patterson 50 yards away coming from the shed. He only had one rowlock and it took a few minutes to get to the sunken boat, I helped Miss Wilson into the boat and one other and all the seven but Mr Wilson were got into the boat and he clung to her side. I did what I could for the passengers and attended to Miss Wilson who was insensible I had thought before the accident I would not like my youngsters in the boat. I was present when the body of Annie Craig was brought ashore yesterday afternoon.
G. D. Huntly
FLORENCE O'LEARY POLICE CONSTABLE
Florence O'Leary being sane saith I am a police Constable stationed at Newtown and assisted to drag for the bodies and got those of Hazlewood and Jessie Wilson during Saturday with the assistance of nets lent by Gailane and Geo. Marks Elus Mexico and N Kennedy and had the assistance of several other Constables. I rescued/recovered the body of Annie Craig yesterday afternoon with the drag. Since they now are all conveyed to the Morgue. The bodies were about 100 to 150 yards from the scene of the accident .I have seen the boat since the accident it was too high in the side and needed ballasting to be safe.
The fishermen assisted by working very hard the whole day on Saturday and got their net cut.
F. O'Leary