Caught In Waterspout
p. 82 · Read in the full issue
Papuan Ketch and Nine Natives Lost
From Our Own Correspondent
Port Moresby, July 3.
SWALLOWED by a waterspout off the Papuan coast, the ketch Lytton, own ed by J. R. Clay and Co. Ltd., Port Moresby, was lost when returning from a recruiting trip on June 21.
Nine of the 21 natives aboard were drowned when she was smothered in foam and swept below the surface. By clinging to a floating kerosene case, Mr.
Bruce Hamilton, who was in charge of the ketch, managed to reach the shore after an eight hours’ struggle.
The tragedy occurred near Pailele, off the east coast and is the second coastal disas ter this year in that vicinity. Eastern Papua has been experiencing heavy weather of late. Samarai, the main centre, has been flooded in many parts recently.