WATER LILY WRECK

Northern Advocate, 19 April 1933, Page 3

WATER LILY WRECK

SURVIVORS' STORY,

ADRIFT IX SMALL BOAT,

SOUTH SEA ADVENTURE

(Special to "Northern Advocate.'') AUCKLAND, This Day.

“Wc Avcre lucky to get out of it aliA-c." So said Messrs John Harris and F, St. J. Parson, both of Christchurch, survivors of the Avrock of the ketch, Water Lily, oil; the island ot Vaitupu, in the Ellice group, last mouth, Avhen they arrived in Auckland by tlio Danish motor ship, Victoria, yesterday. The ketch had been engaged in a cruise round the islands, but of the original crew of nine, six had returned to Xcav Zealand. Late in February the remainder of the crew Avere making for, Vaitupu, ' carrying an elderly Ellice islander, and struck trouble Avhen about ten miles from their destination.

During the night they struck a squnll and the mast began to loosen and eventually went overboard. It took Ihein an hour to cut it clear and then foniffl that the ketch was leaking badly. Attempts to rig up a jury from the miz-zen-mast proved unsuccessful, and as they found they were drifting away from the island they decided to take to the small life boat and make for land. A Strenuous Pull.

“I don’t think any of us will ever forgot that trip in the open boat,” sai l Mr Harris. “We had to contend with a small adverse current, high seas aiul a hot tropical sun. We had no clothes other than shirts and shorts with which to protect our skins from the scorching sun, the kettle ol water vas quickly consumed, and we. felt we would'die of thirst. We had two oars and a steering oar and we kept rowing in turns for six hours before we saw land.

“Getting through the reef was a ticklish business, but we were used that sort of thing after our experiences in the islands, and before long three or four native canoes came out to meet us. The natives evidently knew wo would be suffering from thirst, for they had a plentiful supply of cocoanuts, which wo broached with joy. Our arms and legs which were severely blistered by the sun, swelled next day to lingo pro-

portions. ’ ’ A small trading vessel finally took off Messrs Harris and Parson and took them to Ocean Island, where they joined the steamer. Mr Gerrard, said Mr Harris, decided to remain on Viatupu.