MOTOR-CAR IN RIVER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18171, 17 August 1922, Page 7

MOTOR-CAR IN RIVER.

.» _ SIX MEN TRAPPED BY HOOD. NARROW ESCAPE FROM DEATH. [FKOM OUR OWN CpRRESPONDBNT.] SUVA, Auk. 11, , A remarkable accident, in which seven ; men barely escaped with their lives, occurred last Sunday at the Nausorj crossing of the Rewa River. Mr. C.' H. Honson, managing director of Jang Hing j Loong Company, the largest Chinese j merchants in Fiji, with five of his employees, arrived at the pontoon from Suva in a motor-car driven by an Indian. Another car was on the pontoon ahead of them. When the pontoon reached the other side the first car got off, and' the Indian, driver started his car to follow. The man had left his gear in reverse, and without warning the car shot over the back, into. 20ft. of .water. The gate of the pontoon (which should have been shut) was open. Owing to wet weather the hood was tip and the curtains fastened down. j , The struggle below was a fierce one for I very life. The five employees and the j Indian could swim. Frantically they tore ■the curtains open, even breaking part of the hood, m the mad struggle to escape. Mr. Honson, who' could not siwirn, had a wonderful escape. He said he groped about till he found a fyole, made by his fellows, and pulled himself through. As he djd so hiß hand came in contact with a small wooden,lid from the seat of the motor-car, and this giving the necessary buoyancy, he gradually rose to the surface. He was sinking again, when he was seized by a native who had dived to his assistance, and was brought ashore and very soon recovered sufficiently to continue his journey. The car wa6 brought ashore by some 20 natives, who are expert diver's. Mr. %onson quite seriously said he had been under water for 20 minutes.