ADRIFT IN A DINGY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8360, 13 September 1890, Page 5

ADRIFT IN A DINGY.

A PERILOUS EXPERIENCE. [BY TELEGRAPH.— OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Thames, Friday. The young man, Richird Garrett, mate of the p.B. Te Aroha, who was blown to sea on Wednesday evening, n a small boat, arrived here safely about seven o'clock this morning, in the" fishing imack May Queen, and thus relieved the ajxiety which was felt for hi? safety. It. appears that on attempting to return to the steamer, the dingy vas driven back by the force of the tierce gale that was blowing and almost at the same time he broke one of his oars. His .ther oar also soon afterwards snapped in wo, and ho then had to steer the boat is best he could by moans of the blade if the oar. The "ale carried the dim.')' along it a groat speed, and as there was a very teavy sea running he had to exercise the greyest pes»iblecare so as to prevent the boit from being swamped. The ditiieulty of hi« peril.us position' was incased by. the fact that darkness came on and made .timnossdle fo: him to see where he «as going. hventtalJy, howevVr! he succeeded in grounding bis both ween Piako and WaUakaruru by Which time he was so cold and er.in.pe as tobefreely able to walk. Ho remaned, there'until daylight yesterday mornng, „nd then walked as far as the 'lowers, *one foil or rive miles distant. He got on tie Tower* and had not been there long before he saw the steamer cruising about, but a'.l efforts to attract the attention of those on board were fruitless, owing probably to the mitt. „, , After the steamer went away Garrett decided to make an attempt, to reach the fishing smack May Queen, which was aground near the mouth of the Piako River. Owing to his exhausted condition, however, he failed in his first attempt, but after taking a couple of hours' sleep in the mangroves he made another attempt, and was successful after wading through mud and water nearly up to his waist for a mile and a half. lie was quite exhausted on reaching th« vessel, but those on board paid him every attention, and after receiving tome nourish inont he felt all right again. An attempt was then made to run across to the Thames but owing to the rough state of the weathei the idea had to be abandoned, and i' was not until daybreak this morning that the weather calmed down sufficiently to permit the vessel returning.