SIX DEAD ON LOUGH NEAGH

A sad boating disaster. occurred on Lough Neagh on Tuesday evening, 23rd August, when six members of a party of seven, who left to picnic on Coney Island, were drowned owing to their small sailing boat capsizing. The names of those drowned are: Frank Green (19), Dorothy Green (17), of Lurgan; Hugh and Frank Green (18), of Belfast; and John and Herbert Catchpool, of Guernsey: Mr William J. Green, of Kinnegoe, a coal merchant, is the owner of a number of pleasure boats on Lough Neagh,where he also possesses a harbour.

On Tuesday his family was visited by two cousins (youths) from Belfast,who brought with them two other boys, named John F. and Herbert Catchpool. The latter had come to Belfast from Guernsey, but unfortunately their address is unknown. Mr Frank Green, Miss Dorothy Green, and Miss Winifred Green undertook to take their friends a short trip on. The water. The party left Kinnegoe Quay at half past four to sail to Coney Island for a picnic. The journey to the island was accomplished safely; but on the return voyage the weather became squally, water came into the boat, and the small craft capsized. ., All those on board clung to the boat, but six of them were drowned either through inability to keep their hold or in attempting to swim to the shore. The sole survivor who reached land was Miss Winifred Green. After swimming for two hours she touched land, waded ashore, and after a walk of some miles, found a farmhouse, and called up the occupant. She then collapsed, and lay unconscious for several hours. Miss Green, who is 22 years of age, was the next day well enough to give a correspondent particulars of the disaster.

Read more about the disaster HERE

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