MAROONED.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 18, 22 January 1926, Page 5

MAROONED.

ON NORTH HEAD. TWO DAYS' ORDEAL. (From Cur Owu Correspondent.) SYDNEY, January 14. Weakened by a terrible battle with a storm and without food, an old man was for two days marooned at, the base of the clift'3 at North Head. A fisherman noticed his signala of distress, and. after great difficulty, lie was hauled up the cliff face to safety.

Last Friday morning. Clement Williams (3S). an ex-sailor, left Pyrmont Bay to sail to Broken Bay in a 20-foot ship's boat. -All went well uutil he was off ISroken Bay. Strong head winds caused him to put about. On" Sydney Heads he run into a strong southerly and his boat was driven ashore at North Head. He just managed to scramble ashore on the rocks. It was not until Sunday morning last that he was noticed by Mr. SIV, a Manly fisherman.

A heavy swell prevented Sir from reaching him there and ho made for Manly at i.>]> speed and informed the

lot steamer Captain Cook. But agaii, the heavy .-well prevented the old man's rescue. A third attempt by water police to land on the rocks was also futile.

Eventually a party went overland to the top of tho cliffs, anil, levering a rope from the top. assistance was sent down and the man brought to safety. He was exhausted, having had no food for the two days. Ho was. fortunately, well supplied with water from a small stream which ran down through tho rocks into the sea. Though lie had a good supply of tobacco he had lost his matches when his boat was smashed on the rocks.