Men Stay in Car While Water Rises

Manawatu Times, Volume LVI, Issue 5618, 6 April 1931, Page 2

Men Stay in Car While Water Rises

THEN SPEND NIGHT IN WILLOW TREES SUSPENSION BRIDGE SWEPT AWAY WELLINGTON, April 4. After the bus at Silverstream had been rescued from the Hutt river floodwaters, a smart roadster, with two occupants, came from the direction of Lower Hutt and tried to get through. It stuck, and a breakdown lorry went to its assistance; but it was a case of the pitcher going too often to the water —the rescuers were themselves involved. They anchored the van, with the roadster in tow, to a fence and made their way- out by clinging to the fencewires; but the occupants of the roadster, for some unknown reason, did not follow. As tlic water kept rising, they were shouted to, to come out, but they stuck to the car. After darkness fell, the police were informed, and a rescue party was arranged, but could do nothing. The men eventually took to tho branches of the willow trees, and there they were marooned until they'’ were rescued with ropes at five o’clock this morning. They- were in an exhausted condition, but did not require medical attention. Both arc carpenters: Frederick Potts, of Upper Hutt, and Frederick Stevenson, of Trenthain. Their car was swept into the willows and capsized. The Manor Park suspension bridge, which received tlic full force of the flood, broke away about nine o’clock last night, and, with the exception of the piles on one side, the whole structure was swept down-stream.