HOLED ON ROCK

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 14, 18 January 1938, Page 5

HOLED ON ROCK

FISHING LAUNCH SINKS

PARTY'S NARROW ESCAPE

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

INVERCARGILL, January 17.

The fishing launch Isobel, owned by Mr. Guy Waddel, of Bluff, struck a submerged rock and sank-about-noon1 yesterday, near Ruapuke Island in the middle of Foveaux Strait. The party of eight persons on board had a narrow escape from drowning. They landed on one of the mutton bird islands; A fire was immediately lit and another fishing vessel, the Te Kianga, attracted by the smoke, rescued' the party and brought them back to Bluff. The boat, which sank in deep water, was a total loss.

The party, which included a resident of Invercargill, a,f least two citizens of Bluff, and a few Maoris, set out yesterday' morning in the Isobel on a fishing i expedition to Ruapuke Island. The first sign;of .trouble came when the engine, failed while the bdat was :going through a narrow-passage in the strait. For between five and 10 minutes'the party worked on the engine, but their efforts were futile.

In the meantime the tide and the heavy swell threw the craft against the rocks. The vessel opened up and the pumps were brought into action, but they could not cope with the flow of water. It -wsls then decided to abandon the vessel., .'..'.

.Hastily the occupants of the-boat clambered on to the rocks, which they could just reach, and the boat went down in deep water. It was fortunate that the heavy swell lifted the craft against the rocks, for not all'the members of the party were swimmers.

The boat was a 35- or 40-foot launch in good order and equipped with a new Diesel engine. It was valued at about £1000. It was regularly sailed by Mr. Harry Harwood, fisherman, of Stewart Island. The Isobel is a total loss, carrying, with it all the belongings of the party.