A BOAT IN DISTRESS.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14917, 16 March 1914, Page 5

A BOAT IN DISTRESS.

EXCITEMENT AT SUMNER

Screams and cries for help from the north spit on the New Brighton eide of the Estuary, opposite Shag Hock, caused excitement at Sumner, about 8.30 o'clock on Saturday evening. It was quite dark at the time, and nothing could he seen from the Sumner side as to what was wrong. Two members of the Lifeboat Brigade were soon found, and with the help of Mr C. GFarrow, a well-known oarsman, the dinghy, was launched and the boat rowed in tho direction of the disturbance. . - ■ The rescuers found a young man and a young woman in a pleasure boat. They had already commenced to rescue themselves by wading ashore, the boat, helpless on account of a lost oar, having luckily drifted into shallow water. They told the party in the dinghy that they had been enjoying a row on the Estuary; when they had the misfortune to drop one of the oars. They had consequently lost control of the boat, which commenced to drift past Shag Rock and was being carried out over the spit with the full tide. Seein<* their peril they had cried out for help,- until to their relief they discovered that they were in shallow water. The dinghy towed the pair across to the Sumner side. They were very grateful for the service rendered them, and anxious to express in a more practical way their appreciation of the good turn done them. The alarm was first given by the Messrs. Adams, who live close to_ the scene of the accident. The incident created much excitement, and there ■was a big crowd on the beach.