A HASTY RETREAT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22068, 26 September 1933, Page 8

A HASTY RETREAT

FISHERMEN CAUGHT IN STORM ONE LAUNCH MISSING FEARS FOR CREW'S SAFETY (Peb United Phebs Association.) WELLINGTON, September 25. A southerly gale which sprang up at 6 o'clock this morning put a sudden stop to the fishing operations of the Island Bay launches in the vicinity of Baring Head, and the Harbour Board's tug Toia had to be sent out to the assistance of one of the launches, the Santina, which had an engine breakdown. Seven launches left Island Bay about 4 o'clock this morning for their daily fishing, and when the blow commenced they put back with the exception of the Santina and another launch which stood by to see if she could be of assistance. The latter, however, was not powerful enough to take the other boat in tow and she came in" to seek the assistance of the Toia. The launches were unable to get into Island Bay owing to the severity of the storm, and except for one, which went to Balena Bay, they made for the boat harbour, where they arrived at 9 o'clock, about the time the Toia left the wharves. At 10 o'clock the trawler Futurist was passing in the vicinity of Baring Head, but saw nothing of the Santina. She was about four miles off the point and the visibility was poor owing to the big sea running and the passing showers of rain. The Santina is a motor launch about 32 feet long, driven by a 16 h.p. Standard engine. ' There were three men and a boy la years of age on board the launch. The crew comprised:— Vincesco Costa, aged 50 (skipper), 24 Trent street, Island Bay. Paolo Panozza, aged 42, 11 Trent street, Island Bay. Generara Amitrano, aged 40, 18 Reef street, Island Bay.Ronald Frank Alley, aged 15, 18 Reef street, Island Bay.

The search will be continued to-mor-row at daybreak. Mr A. Dellabarca, of Eastbourne, accompanied by a number of residents from the Bay, will leave for Pencarrow Lighthouse to comb the coast in that vicinity. Other parties will leave in launches from Island Bay. x After the Toia returned to port at 1.10 p.m. without seeing anything of the Santina It was decided to make a search by air, and about 2.20 p.m. Flight-lieutenant G. B. Bolt, accompanied Ly K. Anderson, left the Rongotai aerodrome in one of the Wellington Aero Club's Gipsy Moth machines to look for the launch. Flight-lieutenant Bolt returned at 3.15 p.m. and reported that he had searched the coast up to where the Wairarapa Lake enters Palliser Bay and had seen nothing of the launch.

THE MISSING LAUNCH BELIEVED TO BE LOST WRECKAGE COMES ASHORE. (Special to Daily Times.) WELLINGTON, September 25. It was reported to Constable Baker, of the Island Bay police station, that some wreckage, believed to be part of the Santina; was coming ashore on the rocks near the quarry at Breaker Bay. Some fishermen picked up a 10-gallon drum of petrol, a piece of floor board and a broken bait box. Of these the piece of floor board was definitely identified by a fisherman as belonging to the Santina. Caught between some rocks was what at first sight appeared to be a hatch. However, when with the greatest difficulty this was pulled ashore it was found to be a bait board of the type used on all the fishing launches. No more wreckage was found. When the storm came up the launch was at its usual fishing ground, which normally is -very safe. The coastline is very rugged and rocky. This, it is understood, is the first fishing accident to take place at this spot, arid it is also the first occasion on which an Italian fishing crew has been lost. There have been other fishing launch fatalities in the past but the crews have not been Italians or have not been members of the Italian fishing fleet.