RESCUE OF BETSY JANE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 68, 21 March 1934, Page 16

RESCUE OF BETSY JANE.

THE WINNING ENTRY. Below is the prize winning ending for tho story published in the Budget a fortnight ago. This, was supplied by Audrey dc Berry, 20, Wilton Street, Grey Lynn; age 12. svxorsis. Tony Hamilton, left alone to mind Ills baby brother aboard a bnrge tied to tlie end of a string of cargo carriers at Troy, suddenly discovers that tlie mooring rope lias parted and Jiis boat is drifting helplessly with the current. Faced with great danger, he realises that it is his duty to save the barge and his baby brother if possible. Determination had now overtaken Tony, and with the experience gained on the barge from his father, he first tried to find out where the Betsy Jane had drifted to. lie knew that the barge was near Troy, at the mouth of the River Mohawk, and that it was always a difficult passage to navigate.

Tony also noticed that the sky had become overcast and a southwesterly gale had , sprung up. His made it all the harder Tor liim to locate their position. A hurried visit to the cabin found the baby awake and crying, but time was too precious to take any special notice of his small brother, as it was a quarter of an hour since he noticed that tlic barge had drifted.

Taking some red lights with him, Tony arranged them like a distress signal, knowing that his father would by now be aware that the Betsy Jane had broken away and was drifting in the turbulent lake. Going to the cabin again, Tony took up his little brother and came up on deck, where he had great trouble in keeping his feet, as the barge was being tossed by the heavy swell and gale on the river, but lie managed to tic a bell on, the railing, so that it would ring, and draw attention, should anybody hear it.

Tony decided to put his little brother in the cabin again, and to endeavour to steer the barge near to some lights that, he could see. " 'ii /

About one o'clock in the morning, he was very surprised a& he could see the lights quite near him, and he was very pleased when lie could see quite near by the tug boat that had been attached to the line of barges the. day before. Tohy'iO father and mother were on it, and tliey were very pleased when the tug was made fast to the barge and they were able to go aboard the Betsy Jane again, so as to be with their brave Tony and the baby. Tony after this was always called "the little captain," .