THRILLING ESCAPE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20990, 29 September 1931, Page 11

THRILLING ESCAPE.

SINKING OF A LAUNCH. STRUCK BY SHIP'S PROPELLER. Two youths, J. Squires and T. Conway, of Balmain, had remarkable escapes from death or serious injury when their 21ft. launch was cut to pieces by the propeller of the cargo vessel Calulu in Watnrview Bay recently. Steam had been raised on tho Calulu, which was about to movo to moorings in Roso Bay. The launch, of which Squires was in charge, drew alongside and tied up, and a sling was lowered from tho deck of the Calulu to take on Hoard a quantity of timber which Squires had been ordered to deliver. Tho timber was placed in tho sling, and was being hoisted slowly upward when the Calulu began to move forward. The launch's mooring rope broke and tho craft slipped back toward the Calulu's propeller, which was "churning the surface of tho water into foam. Squires was struck in the back by tho swaying sling and hurled into tho water. With great prescnco of mind Conway sprang toward tho sling, which he managed to grasp, and was carried aloft. Ho had not reached the deck beforo tho launch was cut in two by the propeller. In less than a minute the small craft, now a mass of wreckage, had disappeared. A passing launch quickly rescued Squires, who was dazed by tho blow. Ho was, however, uninjured.