LAUNCH PAETY'S PERIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17327, 26 November 1919, Page 8

LAUNCH PAETY'S PERIL.

TWO DAYS IN OPEN BOAT. WITHOUT FOOD OR WATER. 'RESCUED BY A STEAMER. [BY TELEGRAPH.—-"PEESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, Tuesday. Two days in an open boat, without food or water, and at the mercy of the currents and winds of Cook Strait, was the seque. to a fishing excursion undertaken by six men on Sunday morning. The party, which consisted of Messrs. M. Cording, of Brooklyn, G. W. Kepple, of the Public Works Department, J. Woods, of Lyell Bay, R. C. Dixon, Cambridge Terrace, H. Frickling, Brooklyn, and S. Mason, Lyall Bay, was picked up by the steamer Ngakuta, about 6.30 a.m. to-day, off Cape Campbell, in a very exhausted condition, and was brought back to Wellington. Although obviously very tired and shaken the members of the party had recovered to a great extent by the time the-y, landed in Wellington this morning. The party set out from Happy Valley about 8 a.m. on Sunday after a light breakfast and without provisions, the intention being to remain out for only a few hours at the most. After about two hours' fishing off red rocks the wind began to freshen, and it was thought advisable to head for shelter.

Just as the boat was Hearing land the engine failed, and while investigations were being made she drifted well out. Ultimately the engine* was re-started, but even with the aid of oars it was then impossible to make headway, and the little boat drifted up past Terawhiti. Although the seas were unpleasantly large for such a small craft, a 22ft. open row boat fitted with an engine, no great anxiety was felt at this stage, particularly as later in the day the drift was back towards the heads.

The boat came right back to Cape PalUser, and during Sunday night an endeavour was made to keep in to the shelter of the Orongo Orongo hills. An emergency sail was manufactured from five sugar bags, and then a heavy wind took the party into the rip. When they realised that they were at the mercy of this powerful current some of the party became far from hopeful, but with the aid of the crazy sail an attempt was made to keep on a course that would fin'sli somewhere along the northern coast of the South Island.

At one time four .heavy seas were shipped in succession. All Monday the boat was carried at the mercy of the elements, and by, the afternoon was not far from Kaikoura. Then the party was taken far enough north again to pick up the light at Cape Campbell. The hopes of the I'ttle party revived at the sight of the light, and strenuous endeavours -were made to reach land, but the current was again against them, and several attempts proved useless. During the whole of last night two men, in relays, pulled at the oars, rnd the light was kept in view.

A steamer passed close during the night, but failed to see them or to hear their cries. Early this morning what was taken to be the ferry steamer from the South was aghted, but she was too far off to see them.

Between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m. the Ngakuta hove in sight, and noticing the sail seamed somewhat curious as to its manufacture and made investigation. The six men were taken aboard in a very exhausted con-dt-on. They were ravenously hungry and thirsty. The Npakufri immediatelv put about and returned to Wellington. 'The men were fit enough to come ashore in their own boat when the steamer 'anchored in the stream, and when thev landed were as unconcerned as if they had just returned from a pleasure jaunt. The Ngakuta then resumed her interrupted trip to Greymouth.