ALMOST A TRAGEDY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22835, 20 March 1936, Page 10

ALMOST A TRAGEDY

CAPSIZE OF ROWING EIGHT CREW’S TRYING ORDEAL RESCUED IN THE DARKNESS (Per United Press Association! AUCKLAND, March 19. Nine members of the West End Rowing Club had a remarkable escape from drowning off the mouth of Wbau Creek to-night when their eight-oared boat was swamped in rough water. They were nil rescued more than half an hour later in pitch darkness as the result of very capable work by the crew of a fast launch which had been sent from the Hobsonville air base in response to an alarm given by four other members of the club who rowed ashore to Te Atatu after seeing the mishap. The oarsmen comprised the club’s junior eight, consisting of G. Conway (coach and coxswain), M. H. D. Conway, E. J. G. Hotham, J. Poland, W. Burrell, E. J. O’Mahouey, J. H. Howe, E. Rape, and N. Bellamy. The eight left the club’s shed a little after 5.30 pan. for the purpose of taking the boat to Whau Creek, where it was to be stored in preparation for the Auckland Rowing Association’s championship regatta. About the same time a light-weight maiden four from the club was also proceeding up the harbour until it approached the entrance to Whau Creek. The eight made good progress against the tide, and with a following sea and a wind from the north-east no water was shipped. At the creek mouth, and some distance from either shore, the boat ran into a confused sea, and a following wave running along the stern canvas came aboard, rapidly filling the craft. “ When wc saw that we were going down wc gave ‘ One, two three/ and the loudest shout we could manage all together,” said one of the crew. “In about two seconds the boat was under water, and we were all swimming.” Most of the men detained their oars, and all clung to the boat until it was evident that it could not support their weight. The water was extremely cold, and a strong ebb tide was running. Hot-’ ham, O’Mahoney, and Bellamy struck out for the shore on the Te Atatu side, the two first-named sharing an oar, as Hotham’s had jammed in the outrigger. The pair soon became separated from Bellamy, and decided .to make for a beacon, which they saw some distance away. Hotham was swept towards it, and clung to the timbers, receiving scratches on his chest and legs. He was still holding on when rescued more than half an hour later. O’Mahoney was carried further inshore by the current, where he found the water much colder and ‘the tide so strong that he could make no progress against it. Beldrifted in another direction towards Point Chevalier, and he was the last to be picked up. G. Conway and Burrell, who was an indifferent swimmer, remained clinging to the boat the others drifting olf in the gathering darkness. All were feeling the effect of the cold water, and realised'that unless help came they Would soon be afflicted with cramp. The accident was seen by the crew of the four which was about a mile further over towards Kauri Point in smooth water. As soon as they saw the eight disappear they rowed their hardest towards Te Atatu and landed on a mud bank. Emptying the water out of their boat, they waded ashore and made for • lie Post Office from which they telephoned to the Hobsonville air base. It was now after 6.30. As soon as the news was received at the air base a scratch crew was quickly got together by the Royal New Zealand Air Force. A fast launch belonging to the base, which is capable of a speed of about 17 knots, was got under way and was soon hurrying down the harbour at top speed.

Dusk was closing in and the prospect of finding the oarsmen in such a wide expanse of shoal water was not very hopeful. On nearing the mouth of Whau Creek the launch encountered an 18-foot boat containing two men who were fishing. One of these, J. Sampson, was embarked as pilot. By that time it was so dark that the crew knew they would have to rely mainly on their ears to locate the men for whom they were searching, with possibly some aid from an electric torch

After grounding for a minute or two on a mud bank and then getting off again, the launch party heard cries, and presently they came upon the waterlogged eight with two men clinging to it. The cold had nearly overcome them, and they were in the act of shaking hands by way of a final farewell when the rescuers arrived. When pulled from the water, one of them, Burrell, was suffering a good deal from shock and exposure. The launch then cruised slowly about using the engine ns little a« possible while the crew listened for cries. Eventually all the remaining seven men were picked up one by one. They were scattered over a distance of fully half a mile. In the darkness one of them was nearly run down. , , ~ Having all the men on board the crew took off their jackets and shirts, and made the castaways as comfortable as possible on the journey down to the city. Burrell was taken at" once to the Auckland Hospital in an ambulance. The others by that time had almost recovered. Hotham. o’Mahoney and Howe, who are police constables attached to the central station, were taken back to the barracks in a car which Sub-inspector Scott had ready for them. After hot baths Hotham and Howe went on night duty as usual. Under the difficult conditions prevailing the Air Force crew did a remarkably smart piece of work. They were operating in shoal water with a swift current running, and in complete darkness. After sending off the launch the Air Base telephoned to the city and a broadcast appeal was made from Station IYA to yachtsmen to go to the rescue. The broadcast was picked up at the Devonport Naval Base, and a launch with a full crew was immediately sent to search off the Point Chevalier waterfront. The police manned another launch t,and also set off un the harbour, but the services of neither craft were required.