THREE MEN DROWNED

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 11326, 2 October 1930, Page 5

THREE MEN DROWNED

FISHING LAUNCH DRIVEN ASHORE IN COOK" STRAIGHT

ONE MAN SAVED

ENGINE BROKE DOWN.

FERRY STEAMER CANNOT GET NEAR SMALL GRAFT?

(Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Oct. 1. Tlireo men lost tHbir lives when a fishing launch was driven ashoro in an inlet Just past Ohiro' Bay in a southerly 'storm last night. ’’Tho engine had failed apparently in the middle of the afternoon, and a gale blowing tho vessel from Cook Strait towards the shore.

Desperate efforts were made by the skipper to provent the launch approaching tlio rocky coast, but the position grow worse. From. 8 o’clock onwards rockets wero sent up at regular intervals. Tho Nelson ferry steamer Arahura was signalled from tlio shore, and turned .in to tlio small vessel’s assistance. Sbo stood in close, but could do nolhing.

Olio man was recovered later in an exhausted condition, but no trace was found of the other three.

As far as can be found out ut present tlio names of those lost wore; !-100 Ilebcrley, Jimmy Perano, and Magnus Hunter, all single men boarding at Island Bay. The two former arc understood to belong to Pictou.

The fishing launch left Island Buy at 0 o’clock yesterday morning to fish iu Cook Strait. The wind was strong, and tho engine broke down, apparently between 2 p.m, and 3 p.m.

.Although tlio survivor was not fit to describe liis experiences, it seems that Hcberley, wlieii tilings were going worse, used a sea anchor in an attempt to prevent the disaster. Even the sea anchor must have failed, for Iho drift continued. Early in the evening rockets began to bo sent up .‘regularly. Atcanwhilc tlio Arahura, Jolt Wellington at 7.30 p.m. She was signalled from Island Bay by those who had seen what a desperate situation the 1 auneh. was in. The ferry steamer abandoned her course and turned in towards where the small vessel was; fighting for life. The Arahura then circled, and put to sea again to signal fur assistance. The ferry boat etcino in extremely near to the dangerous Jeo shore, but could not got any closer. ,

1 Attempts were made by fishermen to send! out a rescue party from the shore, hut tho efforts proved of little use. They had a. terribly difficult task. They managed, however, to find tho survivor who was taken to a nearby liouso for attention. , No trace was found of the three missing men, but smashed pieces of the launch liavo been washed up on the rocks.

AIuA.HU RA ONLY THIRTY TO FORTY v*ARDS AWAY.. UNABLE TO GAP BRIDGE. LAUNCH STRUCK BY HEAVY ■SEA AND CAPSIZED. (Press Association.) WELLINGTON. Oct, I. Giving details'of the tragedy, Arthur Hodgman, 18, of Island Ray. in an interview, said the Araliura was at one time only 30 to 40 yards away, but the close proximity of the shore prevented those on board from reaching the fishermen. The launch, the Crescent, was a converted whale chaser about 40ft. long, with a 45 h.p. engine After the engine stopped, all ef- . forts to start it failed, owing to the battery having ran down. The anchor was down and allowed the boat to drift helplessly. “A sea anchor was rigged and thrown overboard, but it failed to cheek the boat’s leeway. At dark, flares were lighted (o attract attention ashore- They managed to get a grappling between Sinclair Head and the Runaround, and'this held for a while. Hie .Arahura saw the flares and * timed in, but by that time the launch was too close inshore for the steamer to reach her. Seas weer dashing over the launch. When ho lighted a flare he could see the Arahuraks stern quite plainly, but the lee shore gave the Arahura no hope of bridging the gap. Heborly then cut the line to see if the ebb tide would carry the launch off shore, but it drifted in still further. Then a huge sea struck it broadside and it capsized. . , “We were all thrown into the sea. Heberlv was trying to keep Hunter up, as he could not swnn. Me had buors olf the lines. * Tlio last I saw. of iloberly and Hunter they w ore struggling together m the water. 1 saw no sign ofVerano. PhiiS was about 11 o’clock.” • . Hodgman was washeu ashoic and rescued after clinging to a rock fop about 10 minutes. Ho hails from Kaikoura--ITIE VICTIMS (Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Oct. 1. Hodgeman, tlio sumvor ?f V launch tragedy .collapsed th s mum iug and was taken to hospital, Aviicic ho is making a recovery.Search was continued all day vviui out success for the three wen, jvlio disappeared when the launch P lid. in tho waves. Details of tlio-lost men aro as follows: „ Guide, .Joseph Hcrborloy, •-’» «. skipper of- the launch, . h OvsLer and Mrs Arthur. Heherlev, UjsLci Bay, Tory CliauncL ■ , ' James Perano, single, aged ~'-b bUU of Wm. Perano, Picton. " . 'Magnuo'Hunter, single, at,ti - »• originally came ' with 1 from tho Shetland Isles nhcie hio father now lives; -. A,-tb,ir HodceThe only survivor is is afc al kaiko?ra ß “tofS tio effects'of swaltomg a largo quantity of sea, water. Magnus 'Hunter was one of tmi brofeS- the other being a ter. Tho third; brother; Ui Hunter,'b'ves at paremala.; He "a. a"member of-the crew-of Abe.Norrui which: was. wrecked oiF Welling ton Heads about three; years brothers : were oil tho beach - tb'ci capsizing: of tho launch i were there for some hours m the hope tliat, their brother would bp saved. HEBERLEY TRIED TO ‘SAVE .... -c ti UNT ei» ; - - Mangas Hunter was the only one of the Tour' on the launch who could not swim, .and according to the tor 3 of the: surivor Hodgeman,. > Heherley might have -saved own l«e .by swimming- to tho -rocks v had • takerihold/pfHuntermanendeavour to • jfrmg him through - the surf to the rocks. . UUUN U;A- L/.;: Vv'

GALLANT ATTEMPTS AT RESC UE FISHERFOLK FROM SHORE ROPE THEMSELVES TOGETHER - - ■ - i ..j.-j-j •• LAST SIGHT OF THE DOOMED ■v • y. -- MEN- •' BOAT SMASHED ON ROCKS 5 WITH TERRIFIC FORCE (Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Oct, 1. ' Every one of tho Scotch fishcrfolk at Island. Bay went out to tho scene of tho disaster to give all the help they could, and took great risks in theif ‘endeavour to : sa.vo the men on board the launch. Several of them roped themselves together, -with Mr Potei* Isbester at the head of the line, and just behind him Mr John Tait. They caught a glimpse of the launch just as a tremendous comber caught it broadside, and capsized it. For a few seconds they could see Hodgeman clinging to the gunwale, while the other three were on the outer side. They were flung off the launch, which was then 'caught in another huge avalanche of water and smashed with terrific force on to tlio rocks'.

'•■YOU’RE SAFE NOW, OLD MAN”

"It was smashed to smithereens’’ said Mr Peter lsbistcr. “I then caught sight of Hodgman, who was lying on the rocks a few yards away. I managed to swim' across, and got hold of him by tlio shoulder. Ho was exhausted' and -barely conscious. I caught hold of him by tlio shoulder and said: “You’re' safe now, old man.’ He replied: ‘Tliank God’, and collapsed. Wo wero then pulled hack by the other men on tlio rope. "Mr Tait said lie saw one ol' tho other nien on the top of a. wave which swept him hack in the current, and nothing more was seen of any' of thorn after that.