MAROONED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22831, 16 March 1936, Page 14

MAROONED

TWO MEN ON ROCK CANOE SMASHED IN EIVER. To be marooned on a rock in the Wanganui River for over seven hours was the unpleasant experience of Messrs W. Leahy and R. Wallace last week. The men, with Messrs G. Nathan and Phillips, had been sent by the Public Works Department to return a canoe, via the Wanganui and Ongarue Rivers, to Okahukura. After navigating the craft as far as Mr A. G. Ritchie’s farm, opposite Herlihy’s Cliff, they met trouble when negotiating the Pokaka Rapids. The canoe got broadcide on and was smashed in two by its impact with a huge rock. Messrs Leahy and Wallace succeeded in jumping on to the rock, 1 but Messrs Nathan and Phillips hung to one half of the canoe and were washed down stream over the rapids. Mr Nathan struck out for the shore and landed safely, and Mr Phillips hung on until he was able to scramble in an exhausted condition on to rocks, a (juarter of a mile down from hie mates.* He lattSr swam ashore and found Mr Nathan, and the two made a desperate effort to rescue Messrs Leahy and Wallace. Their efforts failed, however, and it was not until 2.30 p.m. that the men on the rocks were noticed by a lorry driver passing along the road. The lorry driver thought the men were fishing, but when informed by Messrs Nathan and Phillips, who were on the opposite side of the river, of what had happened, he immediately wont to Tauniaruuui for assistance. A party of Public Works men went out, and Mr Leahy was rescued by means of a rope. Mr Wallace swam ashore. Near the rock the water is very deep and fast runniiig. Messrs Leahy and were sitting on the rock with only their trousers on, in a bitterly cold wind, from 10.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. The men lost practically all their clothing, but were returned to their homes none the worse for their experience.