A PERILOUS TIME.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LIII, Issue LIII, 8 April 1908, Page 5

A PERILOUS TIME.

BOATS FROM THE BEGA. HOW THE LANDING WAS EFFECIED. IPBKSM ASSOCIATION. I (Received April 8, 9.45 a.m.) SYDNEY, April 8. It took the Bega's boats 13 hours to effect a landing. The boats were connected with each other by a line, and one of them, containing the women and children, had to be baled out continuously owing to a plug being left out and the inability to discover the aperture in the darkness and through the crowded condition of the boat. The women used their shoes and hats as balers. There were no rowlocks in this boat, which had to be taken m tow by another heavily-laden one. Cries went up from the women's boat that they were sinking, and then two or three men in the towing boat demanded that the line should be cut. Feeling ran high, and an angry scene followed. This boat was , also taking in a good deal of water. A passenger named Sharp, who was sitting in the stern, was handed, a knife and asked to cut the line. He threw the knife into the sea.

No food or water was placed in the boats, and the occupants suffered much from thirst.

Four seamen of the Bega behaved •splendidly. They took the oars on leaving the steamer, and never ceased pulling for twelve hours. When nearing the breakers rowlocks were passed to the boat which was in tow and the rope was severed. Combing breakers bore both craft hi^h up on the beach, where they capsized, but in safety. Indigestion canted by failure »r» r (he gastric juices. Take Pearson's PtptocfcioT. Is. 2ft 6d. 4*. ; „ . , 8 Wader's Worm Figs—wonderful ' worm worriers.— Advt.