HEROINE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1294, 24 November 1911, Page 6

HEROINE.

* . AFFAIR on a sunken launch. IB? Tclcjr'aph.-Special Oorreßrondeit.l Wanganui, Novomber 23. The pluck of a Maori woman was tbo outstanding feature ol an accident which occurred to Captain ttoss's launch, Benares, up pthc nvcr on Tuesday afternoon last. The Benares, with a largo cargo of timber, coal, and food supplies, besides a number of Maori passengers, was on her way to Matahiwi, and, when rounding a coiner at liuumiku, tho wind, which was blowing very strongly, caught tbo piledup timber on the dock and completely capsized her. The boat righted herself, however, but her noso was then on a rock, and her stern in deep water, the deck to amidships being covered. Included among the passengers were two Maori women and several children, and, when the accident occurred, one of tho women swam ashoro (a distance of about two chains) with a rope, which slio fastened to tho cliff. She then returned and took the children ashore, and also assisted others on board lo land. liut for her plucky action, and prompt return to tho boat when she had swam ashore, and her assistance to those who were clinging to tho launch there is no doubt that some of tho party must havo been drowned. Later in tho afternoon, with tho assistance of Maoris from tho neighbourhood, the Benares was made fast, and her cargo of coal and timber landed undamaged. Tho foodstuffs, however, aro spoilt. It is impossiblo to refloat the launch, as she is at present situated, and it will bo necessary to take a punt up from totvu before slio can bo raised.