LAUNCH WRECKED

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 130, 5 June 1933, Page 10

LAUNCH WRECKED

IN PALLISER BAY

CREW'S LUCKY ESCAPE

SIGHTED BY AEROPLANE

Grave fears were entertained last evening for the safety of four men who left the Boat Harbour in the launch Kereru yesterday morning for a clay's fishing off Baring Head, as they intended to return in the evening. The boat was reported from Penearrow Lighthouse, but was afterwards not sighted. The police were notified and made inquiries, and an aeroplane was sent up this morning with successful results, the launch being sighted on the beach in Palliser Bay and the four men walking towards Mr. E. Eiddiford's station at Orongorongo. ■ The men. were Messrs. Arthur Wolfe, who lives at the Clyde Quay Hotel, Mr. Howard Green, Mr. Clifford Prince, of 7 Prince Street, and Mr. H. Nagle, who lives in Karaka Bay. The Kereru was a launch 35ft in length, and with a powerful engine. It had two masts, and could carry sails. Captain G. B. Bolt, with Mr. B. Morphy as observer, left Eongotai Aerodrome at daybreak today, and the launch was noticed to be well up on the beach. The four men were walking towards Mr. Eiddiford'a station, and the aeroplane flew low, those on board waving to the men. The aeroplane then returned to the aerodrome. WEATHER EXTREMELY ROUGH. The weather yesterday was .extremely rough, there being a strong'southerly blowing, accompanied by heavy seas. The .engine broke v down about noon yesterday, and the water pump broke. Sails were hoisted, but they were soon carried away by the force of the gale, and the launch commenced to drift inshore about four miles inside Taurakirae Head. Two anchors were dropped, but the heavy seas caused the cables to break. The launch drifted towards the beach, and at 9.30 p.m. a huge wave carried the launch forward, and ft landed on the beach on an even keel. The men carried a portion of the gear ashore. The launch, was not damaged, but a small row-boat belonging to Mr. Nagle was lost. • The men made a fire in the scrub, and remained there all night. This morning, wet, cold, and hungry, they commenced to walk towards Mr. Eiddiford's station. They were met on the way by Mr. D. Hansen, manager of the station, and arrived at the station shortly, after 10 o'clock. The men were given a hot meal, and everything possible.was done for them. They left the station at 12.30 p.m., and arrived back in the city this afternoon. Captain'G. B. Bolt, with Mr. E. Marphy as observer, left Eongotai Aerodrome at 7.30 a.m. today, and the launch was noticed to be well up on the beach. The four men were walking towards Mr. Eiddiford's station, and the aeroplane flew low, those on board waving to the men. The aeroplane flew over the station, and dropped a note stating that four shipwrecked men were walking towards the station, and were some miles distant. The aeroplane then returned to the aerofdrome. '