SIXTY-FOOT LAUNCH FOUNDERS

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 174, 20 April 1942, Page 6

SIXTY-FOOT LAUNCH FOUNDERS

Narrow Escape Of Large Party Aboard

GROUNDED ON REEF

(By Telegraph—Press AsesocialioiD AUCKLAND, April 19.

A party of 43 fishermen narrowly es eaped drowning when their 60-foot launch, the motor-vessel Lady Jocelyn, of 50 tons, grounded on ;r reef and foundered in steet) seas,almost half a mile from the eastern shore of Motuihi Island this afternoon. A major tragedy was averted by the arrival of a naval patrol, which took off all tlie passengers only a short while before the Lady Jocelyn went under. Five members of Hie party made a hazardous trip to tlie island in the vessel’s dinghy while the remainder stood on the sinking Lady Jocelyn watching their progress. At Hie time of the mishap tlie vessel was making for Motuihi wharf to land a naval rating who was found in distress in a dinghy in mid-channel. Captain 11. E. Carey, owner of Hie Lady Jocelyn, said they decided to make for Home Bay, Motutapu, and found the rating in his dinghy ou Hie way. “Wo then decided to go to Motuihi •and land him,” Captain Carey said. "While going round Hie corner we struck the end of the reef. \Ve tried to get her off but had to wait for the tide to rise as it was then about dead low water. There was ir sea running and she started to make water. So we hoisted a distress signal. One boat was passing at tlie time but didn't notice it. Eventually she lloated off. “At that stage we were drifting and gradually sinking, and part of tlie crowd, five people, .made for the shore in a dinghy. The dinghy had just arrived back when a naval launch came alongside and took everyone oft’. Just afterward Hie Lady Jocelyn turned on her side and sank bow first. Tlie stern was still sticking up from the water, and she did not disappear altogether, we were about an hour on tlie vessel before she finally went under. She was sinking all the time.” The whole party was brought back to Auckland by the launch. None of them suffered any ill-effects from tlie accident.

Still in liis working clothes, and barefooted, Captain Carey was making arrangements late tonight to hire a towboat. to salvage his vessel.