Captain Thos. & Elizabeth Honey - Kiama, NSW - Graves Mentioning a Cause of Death on Waymarking.com

The drownings were originally reported in the Reporter & Illawarra Journal and the Sydney Mail.

The following is an excerpt from those, in part:

"At the request of a large number of readers who were unable to obtain a copy of the Reporter of the 28th ultimo, containing an account of the accident, we reprint the following particulars as appeared in our issue of that date:--

Never before in the history of Kiama has it been the sad duty of one to chronicle such a sad and terrible boating fatality as that which occurred on Tuesday afternoon, December 26th, when Captain Thos. Honey, J.P., and his wife, Mr. Geo. Wood, jun., and his three young children (Eliza Jane, Elsie May and Harry), and Miss Pike, lost their lives through drowning, at the mouth of the 'Minnamurra River. Prom particulars

To hand it appears that the two families were picnicking close to the mouth of the River, and after luncheon those already mentioned went for a row in a flat bottomed punt, hired for the day. After pulling a short distance up stream the boat was turned 'round, -and with a very strong current, the mouth of the River was rapidly approached. On an attempt being made to pull out of danger one of those unforeseen accidents--a broken oar--happened, thus leaving the frail vessel with its helpless though much valued freight, at the mercy of the current and heavy serf into which they almost directly were borne and out of which one person alone was saved.

From an account of an eyewitness of the terrible scene it appears *that a-large wave swamped the boat. washing Miss Pike into the sea. Captain Honey then seized his wife and bravely tried to swim ashore with her in his-arms; but failed, Mr. Wood at the same time made superhuman efforts to save the precious lives of his two young daughters and son, but after a gallant effort. he too failed; and seven souls had departed to that bourne from whence no traveller returns. All this time Mrs. Wood managed to keep her seat in the boat, and was the eyewitness of a calamity that deprived -her at- once of an---affectionate husband and three dear children, two sisters and a brother-in-law. Pen could not describe the state of her feelings at seeing those so near and dear to her perish".

Type of Death Listed: Accident Website (if available): [Web Link] Cause of death inscription on headstone: Not listed

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