SAVED FROM THE SEA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19718, 18 August 1927, Page 8

SAVED FROM THE SEA.

ORDEAL OF THREE MEN. LAUNCH FOUNDERS ON REEF. RESCUERS TOIL AGAINST TIDE. COURAGEOUS SWIM IN DARKNESS. i [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] NELSON, Wednesday. The foundering of the fishing launch Norma off the inhospitable shores of Wellington Heads last evening, and the subsequent ordeal of the crew, who had to battle for their lives in the icy water, provides all the material for a thrilling story. The timely arrival on the scene of the coastal vessel Arahura, bound from Wellington to Nelson, averted what must have been a tragedy, involving the loss of three lives. Happily, however, Captain Wildman and the officers and crew of the Arahura effected a rescue of the three men after a hard struggle against wind and tide. The greatest skill was necessary in the rescue work, which was carried out in a manner worthy of the best traditions of the sea. The men rescued were: Messrs. Andrew Tate, married, aged 45, Jack Hunter, married, aged 32, and George Baxter, married, aged about 65. All belong to Wellfbgton. Flares Seen from Arahura. At the time of the accident the little vessel was making for Island Bay, from the slip, where repairs had been effected, and it got into difficulties among the rocks on Barrett's Reef. The Arahura, which left Wellington at 7.30 p.m., was abreast of the forts at Seatoun when attention was attracted by flares in the vicinity of the mainland. The night was very dark, with a fresh northerly breeze. At first it was thought the flares came from the land, but shortly afterwards cries of distress were heard from the vicinity of the reefImmediately it was realised that something was amiss the ship's craw sprang into action. At the command of Captain Wildman they lowered a small boat, under the charge of the mate, Mr. McLeod, and within three minutes the rescue crew, comprising four men, had left the ship's side. Then began a long and arduous pull against a strong tide and fresh breeze. ' Meanwhile, flares were kept burning from the launch, from which cries for assistance rang out through the darkness. In spite of the most strenuous efforts, the boat was unable to reach the scene of the accident, the tide and wind being too strong. Second Boat Sent Away. Captain Wildman then ordered away a second boat, in charge of the second mate, Mr. Fowler, with a crew of ten men. By this time the launch had sunk, leaving two of the men clinging to the rocks. The third, Mr. Hunter, commenced to swim to the Arahura, and was picked up by the second boat just as it was leaving the steamer. Mr. Hunter, who is a powerful man, no sooner had been pulled into the boat than he took an oar and assisted the crew. ) After a hard and dangerous pull, the boat approached the two remaining men, who then swam out a few yards and were picked up. The boat scraped several pinnacles of rock, but did not sustain much damage. > . On reaching the Arahura the rescued men were taken on board and cared for. Messrs. Tate and Baxter were in a state of collapse, but revived witfiin a short time. Except for a few bruises, where they had been dashed against the rocks, the men were uninjured. Brothers' Surprising Meeting. Among the crew of the Arahura is a brother of Mr. Hunter, and it was he who pulled his brother out of the water into the boat. The mutual surprise at the unexpected meeting in such circumstances Was great. While the rescue work was being effected, Captain Wildman had communicated by wireless to Wellington, and a pilot boat was sent out. This later took tho three men on board and returned to Wellington. From the time the first signals - were seen until the rescue was made about an hour and a-half had elapsed. The plight of the three men was precarious enough while the launch remained piled up on the reef, but their predicament can well be imagined after the vessel went under and left them clinging to the rocks, which were constantly awash. < Cries of Distress Heard, y A passenger on the Arahura, Mr. J. . Parkin, who arrived in Nelson to-day, said: "We were having supper when all at once the engines stopped. The first sounds that greeted us as we reached the deck were cries for help coming through the pitch-black night, from the launch,' on which flares were intermittently burning- V . „ " The first boat was launched, but could make no headway.' The second boat was then launched, and, just before leaving the ship's side, there was a cry from forward : ' Look out—there is a' man in the water.' Everybody was surprised to see a man gallantly swimming from th« direction of the launch. He had swuilt a, good distance. On being hauled on board he immediately asked for an oar, and said he would , lead the way to his companions. "If the man had come up on tbc other side of the Arahura he would have drifted past and boon lost. He was a powerful man, and was full of pluck. There was great excitement on board during the rescue. From out the black void came the lights of the flares, and by them could be seen the launch, before it sank, piled up stern first on the rocks. It was a thrilling experience."