PERILOUS ADVENTURE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21640, 4 November 1933, Page 2 (Supplement)

PERILOUS ADVENTURE

DISABLED FISHING BOAT

MR. J. H. THOMAS RESCUED

PICKED UP IN CHANNEL

To the lucky circumstance that a distress signal, consisting of handkerchiefs tied to an oar, caught the keen eye of a coastguard watcher, Mr. J. H. Thomas, the Dominions Secretary, and three companions owe their lives as the sequel to a recent amazing adventure in the English Channel. The Shoreham, Sussex, lifeboat was launched in answer to the signal and rescued the party from a disabled IG-foot motor-boat, which heavy seas were threatening to capsize. Mr. Thomas, who had been on holiday with his wife at Hove, started out on a sea-fishing expedition in company with a neighbour, Mr. H. V. Stanmer, his detective bodyguard, Mr. YY. H. Thompson, and his chauffeur. YVe had decided to return," he said, as the wind and sea came up, when the engine failed. We were then about three miles off Brighton. "We manned the oars and attempted to make for land,, but owing to the gathering storm, were unable to make any headway, instead, i\o drifted, and drifted, and were carfied further and further out. to sea. To make matters worse it was cold and raining, and a heavy sea was' running.

" We had a pump, which we used, and also- we baled. After about two hours we gave up the struggle and decided there was only one thing to do —we must show the white flag. Tying our handkerchiefs together we hoisted them aloft, hoping that some keensighted person on shore would see the signal, though oncoming darkness made our position serious. "By this timo the seas were breaking over the sides of the boat, which

was threatening to capsize at any moment. It was also rapidly filljng with water, and all four of us had to work frantically with the pump. This was our plight when the lifeboat appeared in answer to our signal, which had been seen by Coastguard Fowler." Describing the rescue, Mr. W. Gardner. second coxswain of the lifeboat, said: " We had little difficulty in locating the boat, and steamed alongside. Some of the men caught hold of her and held her to the side of the lifeboat. Then Mr. Thomas told his companions- ' Go on. You get aboard first.' He came'aboard last.

" Apparently the party had dropped anchor, but the anchor was dragging. There was a light rain falling, and it was getting chirk. In a little while the boat would have been invisible from the shore. It would have gone out into the open sea, and, I am convinced, those in it would have been drowned.

" When picked up all four men were exhausted by their struggles to row toward the shore. This is the first time that the Shoreham lifeboat, which is comparatively mnv, has saved life/'