RAMMED ISLAND IN FOG

Evening Star, Issue 22540, 7 January 1937, Page 8

RAMMED ISLAND IN FOG

CLOSE ESCAPE FROM DROWNING CHRISTMAS CRUISING ADVENTURE [Per United Press Association.] AUCKLAND, January 7. A close escape from drowning when his cruising launch Shenandoah ran into the rocks at Piercey Island, near Cape Brett, in dense fog early on Christmas morning was experienced by Mr H. E. Jenkins, formerly the member for Parnell. Surprisingly little damage was done to the launch, which, after repairs, arrived at Auckland this morning.- ‘ . . Intending to pick up his family and friends in Auckland for a holiday cruise, Mr Jenkins left Opua, Bay of Islands, shortly _ after midnight on Christmas morning, accompanied ’by his son, Brian, Donovan,. and_ Phil. Aldred. It was. bright moonlight,.-and the sea was smooth. When about half a mile from Cape Brett heavy fog suddenly arose. Owing to the governor of the engine being out of order, Mr Jenkins could not reduce - speed- below 13 knots, and the. Cape lighthouse couldn’t be seen. “I turned the] Shenandoah in a north-easterly direction,” said .Mr Jenkins, “ and this was my undoing. I had to proceed at full speed, and ran into Piercey Island just, past Hole in the . Wall. The. Shenandoah struck with terrific force. I, was thrown against the steering wheel, and injured a rib, having difficulty ‘in getting out of the deckhouse owing to the'angle of 45deg at which the ship was lying. “The seas poured in. My companions, clad in singlets and shorts, jumped on the rocks. This was about 1.45 a.m. Both anchors were torn away, but the strong current caused the Shenandoah to slide off the rocks, and she drifted away, with myself the only occupant. I dared not restart the engine, in the darkness.” Mr Jenkins explained that when daylight came the foe had lifted. The engine room was sin deep in water, but' he was able with difficulty to start the engine, and returned to the island. He threw a line ashore, and the men hauled in the dinghy and got on to the Shanandoah finally. They beached the vessel at Orupukapuka, and later on she was towed to Opua, where repairs were effected. The Shenandoah left on a cruise today. -