BOGUS SOS SIGNALS

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 156, 30 March 1937, Page 6

BOGUS SOS SIGNALS

Boy’s Prank With Torch During Storm ALARM CAUSED AT WAIWERA By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, March 29. Distress signals flashed by a torch from the end of the long wharf nt Waiwera by a 16-year-old boy during the north-easterly gale last night were responsible for much anxiety among officials of the Auckland Harbour Board and among about SO guests of the hotel at Waiwera. With heavy seas breaking over the end of the wharf and thick, misty rain driven in from the open sea by the strong wind, the light appeared to be showing from a position on the seaward side of Tiri Tiri Island. The alarm was first given by one of the guests who saw the light give several intermittent flashes and then slowly spell out the well-known SOS call. After hurried consultation it was decided to communicate immediately with the Queen’s Wharf office of the harbour board. An urgent long-distance telephone call was put through and preparations were made at Auckland for the immediate dispatch of one of the harbour board’s powerful tugs. In the meantime about 80 guests and residents of Waiwera gathered near the foreshore. The light was seen on several occasions, but with the heavy rain, spray and mist it was impossible accurately to judge its position. By walking up and down the wharf and carefully shading the light, the boy carried out his ruse with great success. It was not until the proprietor of the hotel saw the light from a window in the top story that any suspicions were aroused. Viewed from high above ground it could be seen that the light was only a short distance out to sea.

A party then went to the end of the wharf and the lad was found fully appreciating the concern he had caused. He was taken back to the hotel, and it was only when lie saw the piles of warm blankets and other emergency measures which had been taken when it was thought that a party might land on the coast near by that he realised the seriousness of the prank. The harbour board was notified, but already a number of men had been called from their homes.