RESCUES IN GALE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23213, 6 December 1938, Page 9

RESCUES IN GALE

MEN IN SMALL BOATS SURF MAN'S VALIANT SWIM SHIP CAPTAIN'S SKILL DRAMATIC INCIDENTS [FItOM OUH OWN CORRKSI'ONDENT] SYDNEY, Nov. '25 Four men, fishing in two small launches off the coast when a southerly gale sprang up, -wore saved, in the case of one launch, by the heroic efforts of surf men, and in the other by the fine, seamanship of a coastal steamer's master. Two of tho moil Soarly lost their lives off Harbord Beach, just north of Manly, when their 12ft. motor-boat was swamped by heavy seas whipped up by the gale. They clung to the boat for more than an hour. Valiant rescue efforts were by tho waves. Eventually, after two magnificent swims through the surf, Jack Stanton, of the Freshwater Surf Club, hauled both men to safety.

The men were William Williams, aged 71, and Thomas Shilleto, aged 45. Before their craft capsized their plight was noticed from the shore, and the Freshwater surf boat was mauued by a scratch crew. Twice it overturned and then it could not get close enough to save the men. Two life lines were .run out, but inexperienced though enthusiastic helpers ou tho beach nearly drowned the beltinen, who several times swam out on one line.

When the upturned boat was 300 yds out Stanton dashed into the surf with a line. He had a 'tremendous fight against the breakers, but reached the men, who by then had been washed away from their boat. Shilleto told him to take Williams ashore first, and Stanton did so. Although tired after that ordeal Stanton immediately returned and brought Shilletto ashore. An equally lucky escape was that of James Law and Ernest Warner, who, in their 21ft. launch, were rescued by the seamanship of Captain P: R. Dixon, of the 218-ton wooden coastal steamer Belbowrie off the coast near Tuggerah, about half-way between Sydney and Newcastle. Law and Warner were on the point' of exhaustion as 'the result of bailing out their boat for more than two hours when Captain Dixon sighted them and manoeuvred the Belbowrie close enough to throw them a line and take them in tow. An attempt was made to get the men on board the steamer, but a huge sea crashed the launch against the hull, splintering the launch's rudder. It was then decided to tow the latter to the first available shelter. So fierce was the wind and sea that it took the steamer two and a-half hours to travel eight miles to Terrigal, with .the launch in constant danger of being swamped by the seaS and being kept afloat only by the furious bailing of the two men.