Kathy Pinna
Sad Accident at Point Lonsdale. Three Men Drowned.
About 1 o'clock to-day the residents of Queenscliff were startled by the receipt of a telegram from Point Lonsdale, conveying the information that two fishing boats had been caught in the heavy seas and thrown upon Point Lonsdale Reef, and that three of the fishermen were drowned, one only being saved. It appears that at about noon a number of the boats went down to the point with the intention of going outside on the first of the ebb tide, but the men afterwards decided not to attempt the passage, as they considered the sea too heavy, and continued fishing inside. About half-past 12 o'clock two of the young fishermen named Joseph Aiken and Thomas Owens made an attempt to go through the Rip in Aiken's boat, but turned back for a short time and then faced it again. When nearly through they encountered three very heavy seas the first two were surmounted safely by the boat, with her head to the sea. It appears they then endeavoured to stay the boat to come back, but she would not come round with them, the consequence being that she fell off before the sea, and in endeavouring to wear her the third sea caught the boat on the quarter, and hove her right upon the edge of the reef, shattering the boat to pieces, leaving the men struggling in the water. The fishing boats which were in the vicinity at once tried to render assistance. The largest boat, named the Safety, manned by Elias Sanders and John Vantine, went to the rescue, and succeeded in getting young Aikin on board, Owens in the meantime getting on to the reef, over which the sea was breaking heavily. The boat "Safety" then endeavoured to get back, but, before she could do so, an exceptionally heavy sea struck her, and she was thrown over like matchwood on to the reef, leaving the men struggling for their lives in the water. Vantine, who could not swim, held on to the remains of the boat, and was rescued by two fishermen, named Wayth and Currow. Young Owens attempted to swim across to another part of the reef, but as he appeared to be getting into difficulties Sanders went to his assistance, and when last seen they were struggling together until a very heavy sea passed over the reef, after which there was nothing more seen of them. Young Aikin appeared to have been stunned when capsized the second time, and Vantine, the only survivor, states that he saw him washing about on the reef before he (Vantine) was rescued. None of the bodies are likely to be recovered. The remains of one of the boats is now visible on the reef, but will be washed off with the flood tide. Aikin and Owens were single young men of about 20 years of age, but Sanders was a married man of over 50 years, and leaves a wife resident at Queenscliff.
- The Australasian, February 18, 1882.
- The Australasian, February 18, 1882.
