VOYAGERS IN PERIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 21068, 30 December 1931, Page 9

VOYAGERS IN PERIL.

TRIP ACROSS CHANNEL. GIRL IN SMALL MOTOR-BOAT-AMSTERDAM. Dec. CO. After two remarkably narrow escapes and a perilous crossing of the Channel, Miss Betty Thompson*, of Sydney,-and Mr. R. C. Cole, both 22 years of age, have arrived here in a little motor-boat. Miss Thompson, who is 6ft. high, of athletic appearance, and well known on Sydney's surf beaches, told a thrilling story of the daring voyage. The open boat is only 14ft. long, with a h.p. outboard engine, capable of attaining a speed of 20 miles an hour. Miss Thompson and her companion left Westminster Pier, London, and after refuelling at Dover had to return there, owing to engine trouble. On December--8 thev finally left Dover in pitch darkness, and they had no lights except a torch. " When we were approaching Calais/' said Miss Thompson, " the screw of the boat became entahgled in seaweed and she stopped directly in the track of a large steamer. s "Wo shouted, but the steamer still came on, threatening to run us down. I jumped up and furiously waved the torch, but the steamer was within a few feet of us when Mr. Cole freed the propeller and started the motor, enaoling us to scrape past her bows.' " In spite of the struggle with a rough sea. we covered the distance from Calais to Ostend in five hours, and travelled by canal to Bruges. " When entering a lock a cable to which our motor-boat was attached snapped, causing us to drift rapidly. The motor failed and a collision was narrowly averted." —» — °~*°