LAUNCH ADRIFT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 29, 4 February 1935, Page 11

LAUNCH ADRIFT.

IN COLD SOUTHERLY

MEN SAVED BY STEAMER. 'PLANE SEARCH FAILED. Adrift all one afternoon and throughout the night in a 27ft launch, and so completely lost that even an aeroplane search failed to locate them, three residents of Vaucluse, Sydney, suffered a terrible ordeal until reecued in the morning by the steamer Erina. Wet and cold, and suffering torment from hunger and thirst, they were in a bad way when found, but recovered when given food and hot drink. Relatives had spent an anxious night sitting up waiting for news, and had practically given up the party for dead. Water police had conducted an exhaustive search without reeult. The three men were:—John Stewart, master carcase butcher, of Wharf Road, Vauclueej Richard Stewart (21), his son; and Richard W. Stewart, his brother, a horse trainer. Signals Not Seen. Keen amateur fishermen, the three men went fishing in John Stewart's launch. Dressed to suit the heat-wave conditions, they had no idea of the southerly which was then racing towards Sydney. Shortly after 2 p.m. one of the men tried to crank the engine. The handle snapped, and they found themselves unable to start the motor. The launch commenced to drift north slowly, and John Stewart took off Jiis singlet, which he frantically waved on the top of an oar. His brother used a large canvas sheet as a signal, but though they continued to wave until darkness overtook them, nobody on shore noticed their plight. When the southerly arrived at 2.30 they were in an unenviable plight. Their small craft wae lifted and buffeted like so much cork, and two of them became ill.

They were blown rapidly northwards and the pangs of hunger and thirst began to be felt. They had neither food nor water, and found to their dismay that there wan not a mulch on board to make a flare signal. Meanwhile Mrs. John Stewart, and other relatives, had become very worried, and they sought the assistance of the South Head Signal Station and the water police. While the police searched the signalmen kept a sharp lookout with their night-glasses. By arrangement with Mrs. Stewart, a Kingsford Smith Airways 'plane, piloted by Mr. T. Pethybridge, left Mascot at 6 a.m., and searched 10 miles out at sea. Only 50 feet above the water, the airmen ran into a storm, which hampered the quest. Huge waves appeared below them, and it would have been possible for them to have passed over the launch without even seeing it. The machine at length returned, and the pilot was compelled to report failure to Mrs. Stewart, who was considerably upset by.the news. Shortly afterwards, however, the 'phone rang from VVoy Woy, and Mrs. Stewart was overjoyed to hear her husband's voice. Had No Matches. Interviewed on their return the three rescued men told a graphic story. "Our spirits fell when night came with our plight unnoticed," said Mr. J.ohn Stewart. "There was a gale blowing, and for a long time we kept our course steady, with the aid of the oars, being content to go with the wind. The launch, fortunately, behaved well, but we were tossed about terribly. "Wβ were .blown along at a great rate, and several times our spirits rose when boats came in sight. Their lights seemed quite close, and we coo-eed until we were hoarse. But nobody heard us.

"Oh, for a match! We could have soaked a shirt in petrol and given a signal, but we were helpless. It was bitterly cold, and our throats were dry."

The youngest member of the party, though ill, treated the experience philosophically. When not bailing out-and rowing lie slept on the floor of the launch in water which soaked his clothing. "We had to work like niggers," declared Richard Stewart. "No more for me, thank you! One experience like that is enough. We're lucky to Jbe alive." Seen From Vessel. They had been blown 18 miles, and were just past Little Reef, on the way to Woy Woy, when the Hawkesbury River and Gosford S.S. Company's steamer, Erina, came into view, about 7 a.m., when they had been adrift 17 hours. The men reconstructed their oar signals and waved frantically. They were seen from the vessel, which immediately went to the rescue. The launch was taken in tow, and members of the crew handed sandwiches and pots of tea to the exhausted men. This greatly refreshed them, and they remained on the launch until towed to Woy Woy, where they beached their small vessel. Untidy and unshaven they had an uncomfortable trip to Sydney. John Stewart had ho boots or socks.

"I was awake all night, and was terribly worried," said Mrs. Stewart later. "We had arranged to go out yesterday. When my husband and Dick did not come home I knew there was something wrong. They did not take any extra food or drink. We were so desperately anxious this morning that we engaged the aeroplane to seek for them. You can imagine my relief when my husband rang up from Woy Woy to say he was safe."