DRAMATIC RESCUE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22197, 26 August 1935, Page 8

DRAMATIC RESCUE

SINKING OF SCHOONEE MIRROR FLASHES S.O.S. , LIGHTKEEPER'S GOOD WORK The dramatic rescue of a man and his wife and child from a schooner sinking in Torres Strait was described in an official report received in Melbourne on August 16, from the keepers of the Booby Island Lighthouse, Torres Strait. The occurrence took ptace on July 6, but, because of the isolation of the lighthouse, the formal report received was the first announcement of the adventure. On the morning of July 6, the two lightkeepers, Messrs. Everett and Hamilton Smith, noticed a mirror flashing from a schooner about five miles away. Through a telescope, the keepers saw flags which they assumed were flown as distress signals. The lightkeepers manned a small dinghy and rowed out through a choppy sea to investigate. They found that the \*essel was the, 50ft. auxiliary schooner Pacific. She was sinking, and tho occupants, Mr. and Mrs. Iloberts and their child, were exhausted. They were taken in the dinghy, and tho lightkeepers rowed back to Booby Island against a strong wind and tide. The return passage took over four hours. Mr. Roberts told his rescuers that tho schooner, which was being used on an ocean cruise, had sprung a serious leak. He and his wife had been forced to man tho pumps continuously for three days and nights to keep the vessel above water, and, during that time, they had no sleep. If the Booby Island lightkeepers had not noticed the sig- ' nals flashed on a small hand mirror, the schooner would have foundered, and they would have been drowned. Soon after the party reached the, island, the Pacific sank. Mr. and Mrs. Roberts were able to save only a few personal belongings. The action of tho lightkeepers, which involved considerable personal risk, is highly commended by officials of tho lighthouse service in Melbourne, and recognition of the men's services will be placed upon their record sheets.