A NARROW ESCAPE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXX, Issue 10217, 11 December 1893, Page 5

A NARROW ESCAPE.

A YACHT IN DANGEE. A very severe southerly gale was experienced at Lyttelton shortly after 1 p.m. on Saturday, the wind suddenly veering from the north-west. The yacht Kiaora, manned by Messrs C. Aschman and E. Weastoll, had been out cruising during the forenoon, and was returning to the harbour when the gale sprang up. She put into Ehodes’ Bay for shelter and dropped her anchor. When the full force of the gale got to the bay, however, she commenced to drag her anchor, and was soon in mid-stream drifting rapidly towards the northern shore. It was impossible to make sail owing to tho wind and sea, and the yacht was within a cable's length of the rocks when the steamer Rosamond, which was steaming into port, went to the assistance of the yachtsmen, and took the craft in tow. By this time tho tug was well on her way towards Ehodes' Bay to pick up the Harbour Board’s men at work there, and seeing a yacht in distress immediately headed for the scene, and taking the task off the Eosamond’s hands towed the little craft safely to the moorings. The news that the vessel was in danger had spread through the town like wildfire, and when the yacht was got safely to her moorings and it was found that no harm had been done to the crew a feeling of relief was experienced by the large number of people gathered on the wharf.

A boat belonging to Mr G. Henderson was going towards Charter's Bay when tbe gale sprang up. The crew succeeded in getting on to tbe rocks on the southern aide of the harbour, and managed to secure the boat until the gale moderated a little.