TRAGIC FISHING PARTY.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 5 April 1938, Page 7

TRAGIC FISHING PARTY.

MAH WASHED AWAY; LAUNCH , DISABLED. MISHAP OFF MANAWATU HEADS Unknown to those who watched with anxiety the fate of six men in a launch disabled off Manawatu Heads on Sunday afternoon and evening, tragedy tad already stepped aboard, one 01 their number, i.he seventh of an illfated fishing party, having been swept into the sea by a wave and drowned. The unfortunate man was Mr. V. C. Laird, of Palmerston North, a married man with one son. Deceased was 44 years of age. That Mr. Laird had been drowned Was not known until the party was brought back to Foxton yesterday morning after having been towed by another launch to the shelter of Kapiti Island and then across to Paraparaum on the mainland. He was sitting on the stern of the launch as they were endeavouring to cross the bar at the river-mouth. A big wave broke over 'the boat and took Laird with it. Everything that might support a arm in the water was thrown overboard, but he disappeared. The other members of the party were: — Mr. James bmith, fisherman, Manawatu Heads, owner of the launch. Mr. E. J. Graham, Palmerston North. Mr. G. Yining, Palmerston North. Mr. I. Saville,. Foxton, ' Mr. W. Newth, Foxton. Mr. A. Anderson, Palmerston North, Mr. Smith left the river at about 10 'O'clock in the morning and proceeded over the bar in the old pilot-boat to spend the day fishing. When the launch was on the return journey against- an ebb tide it shipped a sea Which stopped the engine ami the craft was forced to drift until it was possible to anchor. It being impossible to help the disabled boat from Foxton, assistance from Kapiti and Paraparaumu was called for, and about 10 p.m. Messrs. Wilkinson (caretaker of Kapiti) and Webber, junr. (farmer of Kapiti) had arrived at the scene and were able to manoeuvre alongside. They took all the men off the disabled vessel except Mr. Smith, who w r as left to steer the launch during the tow. Mr. Smith said afterwards that it was the roughest trip he had ever experienced. Half-way to Kapiti the tow-rope broke, but they were able to pick him up again. It was a terrifying experience and they were all lucky to be alive. Waves were breaking over the launch continually while it Was anchored off the Manawatu Heads. Shirts were torn up and soaked in benzine to make flares. All huddled together in the cockpit to "'get what warmth they could as the cold was intense. A sad feature of the occurrence was that Mrs, Laird was with the crowd gathered on the beach watching the rescue boat arrive, little doubting that her husband was saved. BAILED FOR THEIR LIVES

According to Mr. Granam, the party decided to return to Foxton when the flea began to get choppy. Mr. Smith was at the wheel and the others in the cockpit. The engine was running well. .When opposite the entrance to the river all stood* up with the exception of Laird, to look out for the beacons which were hard to pick up owing to the spray. Suddenly a huge breaker came over the stern and half-filled the launch as well as stopping the engine. Someone shouted to throw everything portable overboard and bail for their lives. They, had the boat fairly clear of water when another sea was shipped washing Smith from the wheel. Vining grabbed it and brought the launch head-on to the seas. Other seas came on board and then the boat seemed to be in calmer water. It was then that Laird was missed and on looking around they saw him : swimming towards the boat. They threw a lifebuoy and oar toward* him. Another sea struck them side on, and , after that Yinihg managed to got the 'engine going again. They cruised around for about an hour looking for Laird, but did. not see him again. They then went further out and anchored.

Laird was a strong swimmer. “Bail Boys, Bail for Your Lives.” “We had all given up hope,” said Mr. Yining 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 that might have been washed up. Mr. Graham was the only one to see Laird after he had been washed off the launch and although deceased was of splendid physique and the best’swimmer of the lot, no man could have lived in such seas as were running. When Graham saw Laird, he was some distance from the launch and was heard to cal] out. Just then a tremendous wave was shipped and Laird was not seen again. Those on board were thrown in all directions by the force of the'buffeting and the engine was swamped. Mr. Yining described Cliff Anderson as a hero. He had declared he would not give up and called on them to bail. “Bail, boys, bail for your lives,” he had yelled above the noise of the sea and all responded. Then they tried rowing but the rolloeks were torn out.

Mr. Yining said he dried the sparking plugs on the only dry patch of clothing about him and Smith managed to get a kick out of the engine. They then anchored off shore. They couldn't 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. They were hungry, thirsty and cold as a result of being continually drenched with spray. The waves were easily 20ft. high where they were anchored. Mr. Yining 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 couldn’t see properly owing to the spray. Rescuing Launch Arrives. After a while they saw what they thought was a bright star to the south. Really it was the rescuing launch and they were glad to see it. This boat passed them in the darkness so they lit their last flare. They had four matches left by that time.

Mr. Yining had much praise tor Mr. Smith who was at the wheel for six hours on end, during the tow to Kapiti. The rope broke twice and seas were breaking over the vessel. They stopped now and again to give him cigarettes and food. They owed a lot to Mr, Wilkinson and his companion in the Government launch which rescued them. They anchored off North Head, Kapiti, at 4 a.ra. and at G a.m. left in a dinghy for shore but it swamped and they got another wetting. Mr. Vickerraan, managing director of Textiles, Ltd., Fox_ton, met them at Paraparaumu and gave them food and rum. He also rigged them out with dry clothing. They were all more or less bruised and showing signs of the ordeal but were thankful to be alive, “See that boy there," said Mr. Yining pointing to his own son. “He is the luckiest boy in New Zealand to-day. He cried in the morning because he couldn’t go with us." All Were Splendid. The owner-of the launch, Mr, Smith, when interviewed, said all the men acted splendidly. He described Yining as a “plucky little beggar," When darkness fell they split into pairs to keep watch and were glad to see the cars on the beach winking lights in answer to the flashes from the launch. It would be a long time before they forgot those 12 hours anchored in the high seas. Never, again.