FIRE AT SEA

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21469, 18 April 1933, Page 6

FIRE AT SEA

TWO MEN ON A KAFT p ADRIFT FOR FORTY HOURS i [THIRD FEARED TO BE DROWNED Tho motor-launch Daphne, of Balnain, Sydney, en route from the Manning River to Sydney, was completely destroyed by fire at sea five miles southeast of Seal Rocks about nine o'clock on the night of Sunday, April 9. One of the three men 011 the launch, Mr. Eric Hogan, of Harrington, Manning River, attempted to swim more than three miles to the shore after the fire had forced the crew overboard. „ It is feared that he was drowned. The skipper of tho launch, James Francis Mackey, aged 28, of Balmain, and the third member of the crew, William Sams, also of Balmain, were adrift on the launch's raft for more than 40 hours before they were picked up last Tuesday afternoon 15 miles out to sea by the steamer, Portfield, outward bound from Newcastle to Maltatea. Limits of Endurance The two survivprs had almost reached the limits of endurance when the Portfield came in sight., There was neither food nor water on tho tiny raft. It was submerged by tho weight of tho two men, and their bodies were half under tvater throughout tho period that they were adrift. As the hours went by the two men, weakened by exposure, had to struggle desperately to retain consciousness and to keep their hold on the raft. The possibility of attacks by sharks added to tho terror of the position. The man, realising what a tiny speck their fragile craft was on the broad expanse of tho ocean, had almost given up hope when the Portfield was sighted. Immediately the Portfield had taken the men aboard she made back to Newcastle at her best speed. Mr. Sams was unconscious. Mr. Mackey had to be helped across the wharf. He told how he had suffered burns about the body and on the feet and hands while attempting to extinguish the fire. Petrol Pipe Blocked According to the story told by Mr. Mackey, the Daphne cleared the Manning River bar at 4.45 p.m. on Sunday. At 8.30 p.m. the engine stopped. Sir. Mackey made an investigation with a closed lamp. He found a block in the petrol pipe leading from the tank. He disconnected the pipe. Suddenly there was a blaze. Attempts to control the flames failed, and the crew launched the raft. The raft consisted of two redwood bonces made airtight by caulking, each six feet long, twd feet wide, and 18 inches deep. Theys we're joined at each end by two boards-' There was no flooring between the boards, and the men were forced to sit on the boxes. The almost immediate sequel was that the raft overturned.. It was a catastrophe for the -crew, because the tin of water and the four loaves of bread which they tad taken were lost. Mr. Hogan, the missing man, was a tower of courage and strength. He helped to right the raft, and then swam about collecting lifebelts, which he fastened to the boards in an endeavour to make the raft more buoyant. Then he announced his intention of swimming to the khore to bring back help'. The two other men tried to dissuade him, but he was insistent. He declared that the raft was drifting out to sea, and that the only hope of obtaining help was attempt to reach the shore. " I'm going," he finally said. The last his friends saw of him in the bright moonlight was an arm swinging forward in a sturdy overarm stroke. Agony ,of Waiting Men who know the coast well say that if Mr. Hogan had reached the coast / at the point for which he made near Seal Rocks he would probably have been heard of by 'Tuesday. They believe that he may have been attacked by cramp after the exertions in the neighbourhood of the launch, or that he may have swum into the midst of a school of sharks. t, . For the two men on the raft Mr. Hogan's departure was the prelude of an agony of weary waiting for improbable help. They were still inside the ordinary path of shipping, and twice saw steamers pass them by. They knew that they were so low in the water that signals would be unavailing. Early on Monday afternoon, at a point about eight miles south of Seal Rocks, Mr. MackeV sighted the burned launch still floating, and apparently less /damaged than he had expected. It was/far too distant to permit a swim from the raft. Another night passed, and a morning. Mr. Sams was only semi-conscious, and Mr. Mackey had to keep watch to see that he did not fall into the water. The raft its southward drift. Suddenly, early on Tuesday afternoon, on the far horizon, Mr. Mackey , saw tho dim outline of Nobby's, the landmark which indicates the port of Newcastle. Almost simultaneously, the smoke of the Portfield was seen. The steamer was taking a course which would evidently bring it close to the raft. As it approached, Mr. Mackey shouted and waved. Anxiety made minutes hours. Then the Portfield began to slacken pa/'e. The men on the raft realised that, incredibly, they were saved. Fortunate Dream Mr. Mackey said that in the last four or five hours before they were picked up by tho Portfield/he had had to make about five or six grabs to prevent the unconscious Mr. Sams falling into the water. His own chief trouble had been to distinguish wl#it he was seeing from what he was dreaming. Once he had thought that Mr. Sams and he had taken the raft safely into Port Stephens, and that they had gone to a hotel and had met Mr. Hogan there. He woke up to find that the raft was drifting past the entrance to the port. It was added by Mr. Mackey that he Avould possibly not have noticed the Portfield but for another dream in which he thought that a rescuing steamer was coming out from Newcastle. He called to Mr. Sams, started to sinnal, woke up, and realised that the Portfield was a real steamer and not a phantom. Throughout the day schools of barracoota were approaching the raft with manner.