Clarke Island, Sydney Harbour
Edward Albert Boaz was my grandmother's youngest brother. He died tragically in a boating accident on Sydney Harbour, heroically but vainly attempting to save the life of his fiance, Elizabeth Boyce.
He was 22 years old. It was the eve of their wedding.
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At 10:45 a.m. on the Boxing Day holiday of 1899, a 22 foot half-deck sailing boat named "Splendora" sailed from Rushcutter's Bay bound for Clarke Island.
On board were the engaged couple and a party of 20 other young men and women, their friends, the majority of whom were employees at Anthony Horden & Sons, a large department store in Sydney.
Charles Young, an experienced sailor, was in charge, and had with him some other experienced young fellows, who formed what would be considered a reliable crew.
The early part of the trip was accomplished easily, although a choppy sea was running and the wind was blowing with some force up the harbour.
But when putting about between Clarke Island and Point Piper, a heavy sea broke over the boat, which immediately capsized. Most of the occupants clung to the upturned boat; the exceptions being three young women.
Two young ladies, May Moon and Joanna Collins, were not seen again after the capsize.
The other was Elizabeth Boyce, who called for assistance, and Bertie Boaz swam off to help her.
There was a heavy sea running, and despite the plucky young man's efforts, the struggling couple were slowly but surely swept away from the boat.
After five or six minutes Boaz called out to Young "Charlie, come to me, I am done."
Charlie looked round and saw Boaz and Elizabeth Boyce struggling in the water, twelve to fifteen yards to leeward. Boaz had his arm round Miss Boyce's waist.
Charlie called out "Bert, I cannot come, but I will try to send someone."
He then called out to another of the men "Jack, can you go to Bert? He is done."
Jack, who had two ladies, one on each arm and a third leaning against his chest, replied "No Charlie, I have two ladies here."
Bert and Elizabeth, becoming exhausted, disappeared from view and were lost.
Postscript:
About twenty minutes afterward the capsize of the "Splendora", all of the other members of the party were rescued by the "Ivanhoe".
Although its crew were mostly boys, they rendered excellent assistance. When the youngsters saw that there was not room in the "Ivanhoe" for the rescued and the rescuers, a number of them pluckily jumped overboard to make room for the ladies, and climbed onto the upturned Splendora.
The bodies of Amy Moon, Joanna Collins and Herbert Boaz were recovered near Point Piper by the Water Police on Saturday, 30 December, and that of Elizabeth Boyce at 7 a.m. the following morning.
(from The Evening News, 03 Jan 1900.)
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