FOUND JUST IN TIME

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 71, 16 December 1933, Page 11

FOUND JUST IN TIME

Men Rescued from Sinking Launch TWO PETONE RESIDENTS Picked up in a sinking launch off Black Buoy late on Thursday night, two Petone men, Messrs. S. J. Hodge and A. Pratt, had a lucky escape from drowning. They were taken aboard the Kapiti, and their launch the Venture taken in tow. When abreast of Point Halswell, the launch foundered. The coastal motor-ship Kapiti, returning to Wellington late on Thursday night, saw distress signals near Black Buoy off Seatoun about 11.45 p.m., and her master, Captain V. Johansen, ordered the vessel in to investigate. Using a powerful torch, he picked up a small launch, almost awash, with two men aboard. The Kapiti was put alongside the launch, a tow rope attached, and the men taken off. There was a fairly heavy sea running under the influence of the strong northerly wind, and no attempt was made to raise the launch’s anchor. The rope was cut, and, with the Venture in tow, the Kapiti made for port. The launch was leaking badly, and those on board the Kapiti were of the opinion that she could not have kept afloat for more than another hour at the most. The Venture was well off shore, and had the Kapiti not seen her distress signals, the two men would have had a very poor chance of reaching shore alive in the heavy sea. ' It was nearly five hours before another vessel passed the spot, and the launch could not possibly have remained afloat till then. When abreast of Point Halswell coming into port the Venture foundered. One of the Kapiti’s lifebuoys was made fast to the towline before it was cast off to mark the spot where the launch had sunk, and the Kapiti proceeded on her way and berthed at 1.20 a.m. yesterday. Messrs. Hodge and Pratt left Petone at 2 a.m. on Thursday for Baring Head. While they were returning the engine gave trouble, and the Venture was anchored off Seatoun fop repairs to be effected. Shortly after she left Seatoun the engine again gave out The vessel had been leaking for some time, and, by the time repairs had been made, the water was up to the flywheel of the engine and an attempt to get the engine going splashed water into the magneto, and it was put completely out of action. After drifting for some‘time the Venture was finally anchored near Black Buoy, where she remained until she was found, almost awash, by the Kapiti. Yesterday morning the Harbour Board’s tug Toia made an attempt to raise the Venture. The attempt, however, was unsuccessful, the towline carrying away the bollard to which it had been made fast to the launch. It is not thought that any further attempt will be made to salvage the Venture.