UNKNOWN

Auckland Star, Volume XVII, Issue 201, 27 August 1886, Page 2

UNKNOWN

DnniNd tho galo of yestorduy afternoon the cutter Watchman dragged her anchor, and drifted on to Henderson and Spniggori- , slip, which sho cut clean through. This brought hor up for a while, and enabled hor hands to run out a lino to ono of tho buoys moored off the Customs-street wharf. Deeming a single lino insufficient to hold hor, the skipper (Johnson) and a seaman naniod Statkoy went oil in tho dingy with a kedge anchor, but woro unable to mako headway agaiost tho heavy soa running at tho timo. Eventually thoy got hold of tho line, made fast to tho buoy, and by it pulled out tho dingy, hand over hand, towjids the buoy, and dropped the kedgo. In attempting to roturn to the cutter, the dingy got underneath tho buoy lino, and boing hold down by it, swamped. Tho two men held on to tho lino, and worked up by it towards tho cuter. Johnson succeeded in getting closo up under her bows, whore ho was made fast with a rope by one of tho hands on board the cutter. Starkey, however, was too exhausted to get so far, and every sea washed over him as ho hold on to tho lino. Hugh Clarke, master manner, who saw tho accident from Henderson and Spraggon's yard, togother with Spraggon junior, very pluckily put off in a boat to tho rescue, und rciuhcd tho mon just as Starkoy lot go his hold from oxhaubtion. Fortunately, Clarko got hold of him, and after awhile managed to draw him into the boat. One of tho oars had meanwhilo gone adrift, and was recovered only after v hard struggle against wind and sea, just in timo to save tho boat from being smashed or upset against tho wharf or Hobsou-.-troot breakwater, which would inevitably have caused tho death of Starkey, who was lying powerless at the bottom of tho boat, and havo ondangerod tho lives of Clarko and Spraggon. Having recovored tho lost oar, they pulled out clear of tho breakwater, and tben ran beforo tho soa and brought up under the 100 of tho dock entrance alongside tho Koto Casey, starkoy was haulod aboard the Steamer, and tho mate and steward kindly supplied brandy and blankets, and, being warmed, rubbed dry, and provided with dry clothing at tho dock engine-room, Starkoy was sent by tho water police to the Hospital,apparently in a fair way of spoodily recovering.