DISABLED LAUNCH

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21793, 7 May 1934, Page 15

DISABLED LAUNCH

BLOWN OUT TO SEA 7 RESCUE BY A STEAMER A launch in which Mr. H. Gunderson, of Stockton, New South Wales, and his Sons, Howard and Harold, were fishing off Newcastle recently, was blown about 24 /; miles out to sea after its engine broke down at 10.30 a.m.

The steamer Marella, bound south, picked up the father and sons at 9 p.m. They had then used the last of the signal flares with which the launch was equipped, and had begun to fear that the wind would blow them still further off the coast and out of the track of shipping. As Mr. Gunderson and the two youths Were climbing aboard the Marella a big wave threw the launch against the steamer. The launch was badly holed and was abandoned. The Newcastle pilot steamer Birubi came alongside the Marella shortly afterwards and took the Gundersons back to Newcastle.

On leaving home at 5.30 a.m. Mr. Gunderson said he would be back at mid-day. When there was no sign of him at sunset Mrs. Gunderson went to the Stockton police, who arranged with the Navigation Department to have the Birubi sent out.

The flares were made from pieces of Mr. Gunderson's coat and from bagging soaked in benzine, -which were placed at the top of a long pole and waved vigorously. When the party came to light them they found that their supply of matches had been exhausted, and it was necessary to shortcircuit the magneto until the resultant sparks ignited the benzine-soaked material.

A steamer proceeding north paused the launch just after dusk, but failed to notice its plight. About half an hour later another vessel steaming east also passed without seeing the launch. Mr. Gundersoil had escaped from two previous shipwrecks, that of the Redwood off the Dutch coast in 1911, and that of the Vectis off the Yorkshire toast earlier.