DANGEROUS BOAT ADVENTURE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15033, 5 January 1911, Page 4

DANGEROUS BOAT ADVENTURE.

NARROW ESCAPE.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

AUCKLAND, January 4. Two residents of Waihi, W. Moran and E. Edwards, had a narrow escape from drowning off Matakana Island during the holidays. Two of a party of four who put out to the island in a small sailing boat were landed, and the others (Moran and Edwards) headed the craft lor, Kauri Point, where they intended doing some fishing. AVhen off the point the throat of the boom came away from the mast, and the sail blowing out at the peak caused the boat to capsize, the occupants being thrown into the water. Almost immediately the boat sank, but Moran, with commendable presenco of mind, made a temporary raft out of a fish board and two oars, and instructed Edwards, who wne unable to swim, to cling to it. The latter followed the instruction, and Moran, who was a strong swimmer, struck out for the island, pushing the raft and his companion with one arm. A strong ebb tide and heavy sea. made his progress slow and difficult,, and the rait was carried paet the point for which Moran was making. They were gradually driving towards tho channel current which runs over the bar and out to sea when fortunately their cries for assistance were heard by their comrades (Richards and O'Brien) on the island, who hurried into the water and seized the raft and those clinging to it just as it was being swept past. The rescue was effected just in time, as both men were in a thoroughly exhausted state. But for Moran's presence of mind and resource, which led to his construction of the raft when tho boat sank, Edwards would undoubtedly have lost his life.