ORDEAL IN GULF

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23273, 16 February 1939, Page 12

ORDEAL IN GULF

FISHERMEN'S PLIGHT SMALL BOAT IN SQUALL LONG DRIFT IN HIGH SEAS CAMPERS' ARDUOUS DAY

While fishing off Brown's Bay yesterday morning two men in a flatbottomed boat were caught in a squall, and being unable to return to the shore owing to the strong wind, they had an alarming experience in high seas before landing at Sandy Beach on the northern end of Motutapu Island some hours later. The men, who have been camping at Brown s Bay, were Mr. Alexander B. Lee, married, aged 25, caretaker of the Auckland Baptist Tabernacle, and Mr. Horace Parker, mechanic, of 26 Maranui Avenue, Point Chevalier. Owing to an injury one of the men was unable to row and when the squall struck the boat his companion soon became exhausted trying to row back to tho shore, which was about 300 yards distant. A Hazardous Journey Keeping the bow of the boat to the weather, they resolved to drift across tho Hauraki Gulf toward Motutapu, but it was a hazardous journey, and they were the first to admit their good fortune in surviving the experience. . . , For a time after regaining land ana beaching their boat, tho men rested. Two launches were sighted some distance off the island and determined but unsuccessful efforts to attract attention were made by men, who used their shirts to wave signals. Then they set out to walk round Motutapu to Islington Bay, where they arrived late in the afternoon. Assistance at Eangitoto

Making their plight known to the deputy-caretaker of Rangitoto Island, Mrs. J. Clark, the men were given a meal and clothing, and telephone calls were made to friends at Brown's Bayto advise of their safety, and also to the police, who were awaiting a favourable opportunity to despatch a patrol launch to search for the men. Later, Mrs. Clark lent them money, and the launch Olivene was summoned from Auckland to take them to Devonport, where they took a bus back to Brown's Bay, arriving at about eight o'clock last night little the worse for their trying day.