LAUNCH ON ROCKS

Northern Advocate, 8 November 1932, Page 8

LAUNCH ON ROCKS

PICNIC PARTY IN DANCER. MIDNIGHT EXPERIENCE. SYDNEY, October 24. One hundred men, women and eltildvon had n terrifying experience late last night, when the launch Regent struck the rocks on the Sow ami Pigs reef. In the panic which followed the grounding a yoptli seized a seven months old infant, and sprang into the water. Nine other young men followed the youth into the harbour when the order was given to lighten the launch.

The screams of the womenfolk and the men’s shouts for help were heard from the beach at Watson’s Bay and from the military barracks at George’s Heights, and help was soon on the way. In the meantime the launch had tloated off the reef, leaving those who had jumped into the w r ater stranded on tiie rocks ami on rudely-fashioned rafts, which had been thrown to them. They were eventually rescued by the pilot steamer Captain Cook, little the worse for their adventure.

The party comprised members of the St. James’ Sports Club, Forest Lodge, and had spent the day picnicking at Killarnoy, Middle Harbour. Delayed by the late arrival of the launch which was to bring them to Circular Quay, they did not leave the picnic ground until several hours after nightfall. The party was a happy one, ami a popular chorus was in full swing when the crash of the grounding throw everyone into a panic.

The launch gave a sickening lurch and rocked perilously in the heavy swell, shipping a good deal of water. In the rain and darkness most members of the party were momentarily convinced that the launch was sinking. E. Evans, a youth, seized his married sister’s infant girl, exclaiming, ‘‘Give mo the baby. I will look after her.” Quickly wrapping the child in a. large towel ho rushed to the stern and leapt overboard. With the baby held aloft, Evans, who was a powerful swimmer, 'swam to the rocks and clambered on to them.

No Serious Damage, By this time confusion had given place to something like order, and several of the young women, who had shown signs of hysteria, were calmed. The master of the launch had by this time discovered that the launch was not seriously damaged, and decided that, if relieved of some of the weight, it might be refloated. He accordingly ordered all the men who could swim to enter the water. Ignoring the possibility of sharks, nine young men, including E. Coombes, J. Burt, M. Dunn, D. Craig, C. Craig, H. Alehin, L. Turner, and J. Andrews, promptly obeyed the order, but the older members of the party dissuaded the remaining youths from following their example. Those in the launch seized scats and other wooden, fittings and threw them to those in the water. Several of the swimmers grasped these rude rafts, while the others swam to precarious footholds on the reef. In the launch itself lifebelts were issued to tiie women and children, a. burning towel was waved aloft, and the party gave concerted shouts for help. A Manly ferry steamer passing on its way to Sydney seemed to the anxious watchers,, to slow down as if to come to their aid, and there was a cry of disappointment when site kept to her course. Paper flares were also lit, apparently without avail.

The plight of the party, however, had by no means passed unheeded. Afajor Lennox, of the George’s Heights garrison, hoard the shouts, which also reached Messrs. A. Scott and D. Fountain on Cove Beach, near Watson’s Bay. Major Lennox telephoned the water police, who informed the South I Head Signal Station, where the officer lon duty, Air. W. Hart, immediately sent a message by Alorse lamp instructing the pilot steamer Captain Cook to go to the rescue. Scott also telephoned the signal station, and whilst the master of the pilot steamer, Captain Alann, was decoding the message, the launch itself came alongside, and members of the party excitedly explained the plight of their less fortunate fellows on the rocks. The Captain Cook was soon under way, and within a short, time had landed the dripping figures on the Watson’s Bay wharf. The Infant girl was quickly taken into its mother’s arms, its wet clothes removed, and warm towels provided for Its 7mitoction.

Mishap To Rudder. Describing the adventure early this morning, a member of the party said that, after the first few minutes of panic, all on board the launch, including the children, behaved splendidly. Despite their seemingly perilous plight; they had quickly responded to the efforts of one of the men to strike .up a song. When one youth commenced the refrain of ‘‘ He played his ukulele' ns the ship ■wont down,” he caused a' general shout of laughter. The older women of the party made light of the situation. Prom Watson’s Bay the party reaehod the Quay by ferry and departed for their homes in taxis. The launch was taken to Watson’s Bay, where the damage will be examined today. It was stated that the grounding had resulted from a mishap to the rudder.