ORDEAL AT SEA

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 80, 5 April 1938, Page 9

ORDEAL AT SEA

DISABLED LAUNCH

GRAPHIC STORIES

MAN SWEPT OVERBOARD

(Special to the "Evening Post.")

PALMERSTON N., This Day.

Graphic descriptions of the circumstances in which Mr. V. C. Laird, of Palmerston North, was lost overboard from the fishing launch which was disabled off the >Manawatu Heads on Sunday afternoon and evening were given by members of the party yesterday. Mr. Laird, who was 44 years of age, belonged to Palmerston North and was a married man with, one son. The news of his death was not known until the party, was brought back to Foxton yesterday after having been towed by another launch to the shelter of Kapiti and then taken across to Faraparaumu. * ■

Mr. Graham said that they decided to return to Foxton when the sea began to get choppy on Sunday afternoon. Mr. J. Smith, the owner of the launch, \was at the wheel and" the others in the cockpit. The engine was running well. When opposite the river mouth all stood up, with the exception 'of Mr. Laird, to look for the beacons,1, which were hard to pick up owing to spray. Suddenly a huge breaker came over the stern and halffllled the launch as well as stopping the engine. , Someone shouted to throw everything portable overboard and bail for their lives. ThejA had the boat clear of water when another sea was shipped, washing Mr. Smith from the wheel. -Mr. Vining,grabbed.it and brought the boat head on to the seas. Other waves came on board.and then the boat seemed to be in calmer water. It was then that. Mr. .Laird was missed, and oh-looking around they saw him swimming towards the boat. They threw a lifebuoy and an oar towards him. Then another sea struck the boat ton the side. After that Mr. Vining got the engine going again and they cruised around looking for Mr. Laird, but could not find him. They then went further out and anchored.

HIS ROUGHEST TRIP.

Mr. Smith, describing" the ' tow to Kapiti, said it was the roughest trip he had ever made. Half-way to Kapiti the tow rope broke, but the other launch, was able to pick it up again. They had had a terrifying experience and were lucky to be alive.

"We had' all given up hope," said Mr. Vining, when interviewed last evening after his return from a search for the body of Mr. Laird, who was his brother-in-law, and any gear th^t might have been washed up. Mr. Graham was the cyjly one to see Mft Laird after he had been washed off the launch, and although the "deceased was of splendid physique and* the best swimmer of the lot, no' man could have tyved in such seas vas were running. When Mr. Graham saw Mr. Laird he was some distance from the launch and was heard to call out. Just then a tremendous wave was shipped and Mr. Laird was not seen again. Those on board were thrown in all directions and the engine was swamped. ' . •-.■■

Mr. Vining . described Cliff Anderson as a hero. He had declared he would not give up and called on them to bail. "Bail, boys, bail for yo_ur lives," he had yelled above the noise of the sea, and all responded. Then they tried. rowing, but the rowlocks were torn out. ; .

'Mr.,Vining sa|d he dried the sparking plugs on the only dry patch of / clothing about him and Mr: Smith managed to get a kick out' oi the engine. They then anchored off-shore. They could not run to Kapiti, as their reserve benzine tin had burst open. The afternoon was spent bailing and preparing for darkness. They made flares out of rags soaked in a mixture of benzine and kerosene and tried out the old kerosene lamp in the locker. It was on top of this lamp that they dried their matches.

COMPANIONS' BRAVERY.

They were hungry! thirsty, and cold through being continually drenched with spray. The waves were easily 20 feet high where they were anchored. Mr. Vinirlg said his companions were the bravest lot of chaps he had ever seen. Young Saville was terribly sick, but did his best to get the Morse messages from the shore. They could not see properly owing to the spray. After a while they saw what they thought was a. bright star to the south. It turned out to be the rescuing launch. It passed them in the darkness, so they lit their last flare. They had- four matches left by that time. v ■-■ Mr. Vining had much praise for Mr. Smith, who, was at the wheel *or six hours on end during the tow to Kapiti. The rope broke twice and seas were breaking over the vessel. They owed a lot to Mr. Wilkinson and his companion in the Government launch which rescued them.-

Mr..Smith said that all the' men acted splendidly.