PERILS OF THE SEA

Otago Witness, Issue 3995, 7 October 1930, Page 21

PERILS OF THE SEA

FISHING LAUNCH TRAGEDY.

THREE MEN DROWNED. WELLINGTON, October 1. Three men lost their lives when a fishing launch was driven ashore in an inlet just past Ohiro Bay in the southerly storm last night. The names of those lost are:— JOE HEBERLEY. JIMMY PERANO. MAGNUS HUNTER. All were, single men, boarding at Island Bay. The two first-named, it is understood, belong to Picton. RESCUE EFFORTS FAIL. The fishing launch left Island Bay at 6 o’clock yesterday morning to fish in Cook Strait. The wind was strong, and the engine broke down apparently between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. Although the survivor is not fit to describe their experiences, it seems that Heberley, when things were growing worse, used a sea anchor in an attempt to prevent disaster. Even the sea anchor must have failed, for the drift continued. Early in the evening rockets began to be sent up regularly. Meanwhile the Arahura left Wellington at 7.30 p.m. She was signalled from Island Bay by those who had seen what a desperate situation the launch was in. The ferry steamer abandoned her course and turned in towards where the small vessel was fighting for life. The Arahura then circled and put to sea again to signal for assistance. The ferry boat came in extremely near to a dangerous lee shore, but could not get any closer. SURVIVOR INTERVIEWED. In the launch was Arthur Hodgman, aged 18, of Island Bay, who in an interview said that the Arahura was at one time only 30 or 4.0 yards away, but the close proximity of the shore prevented those on board from reaching the fishermen. The launch Crescent was converted into a whale chaser and was about 42ft long, with a 45 h.p. engine. After the engine failed all efforts to start it failed owing to the battery having run down. The anchor was down only a short time when the rope parted and allowed the boat to drift helplessly to sea. The anchor was rigged and thrown overboard, but it failed to check the boat’s leeway.

At dark flares were lighted to attract attention ashore. The Arahura saw the flares and turned in, but by that time the launch was too close inshore for the steamer to reach her. The’ seas were then dashing over the launch. When he. lighted the flare he could see the Arahura’s stem quite plainly, but the lee shore gave the Arahura no hope of bridging the gap. Heberley then cut the line to see if the ebb tide would carry the launch off the shore, but it drifted in still further. Then a huge sea struck it- broadside on and it capsized. J

“ We were all thrown into the sea. Heberley was trying to keep Hunter up. He could not swim, and when I last saw Heberley and Hunter they were struggling together in the water. I saw no sign of Perano. That w r as about 11 o'clock.”

Hodgman was -washed towards shore and managed to cling to a rock. The waves were buffeting him about, but although he was almost exhausted he held to the rock, and his cries soon brought help from the shore. He was taken to a nearby house, Where he was wrapped in warm blankets and given hot drinks.

The vicinity of the tragedy was strewn with wreckage from the launch this morning, and big seas were rolling into the inlet.

A BRAVE SKIPPER.

FISHERMEN’S HEROIC EFFORTS. WELLINGTON, October 1.

Behind the tragedy of the sea which has occurred in one of the rocky little bays beyond Island Bay is a story of heroism which cannot leave one unmoved.

Had Heberley, the skipper of- the launch, endeavoured to swim straight in when it capsized he would probably have reached the rocks and been rescued by men on a life line. Instead he stayed behind to help his 'Comrade, Magnus Hunter, who could not swim, and so sacrificed his life.

The sole survivor, Arthur Hodgman, undoubtedly owes his life to the intrepid manner in which Peter Isbister, the end man oh the life line, swam across to the rock at the risk of his life, and the two were towed ashore by other fishermen on the rope, who were at times immersed beneath waves. It was with the utmost difficulty that the rescuers could lie induced to say anything of how the rescue ■was effected. ONE BODY RECOVERED. WELLINGTON, October 4. The body of Magnus Hunter, was found shortly after 9 o’clock this morning in the course of the dragging operations being conducted by the search parties. The body was in fairly keep water off Red Rock, about a quarter of a mile to the south-west of where the disaster occurred. No trace has yet been found of the bodies of the other two men, and the search is being carried out under difficulties, the heavy south-westerly swell proving a handicap.

MEANS OF RESCUE LACKING.

PROVISION OF LIFEBOAT URGED.

WELLINGTON, October 5. “ Had a lifeboat been stationed at Island Bay the lives of all on board the fishi 'g launch Crescent, which was driven ashore near Ohiro Bay on Tuesday evening, might have been saved,” said Mr J. W. Perano, father of one of the lost fishermen to a reporter this afternoon. The boat drifted for about nine hours before it was wrecked, Mr Perano continued, and the occupants burned even their clothing dipped in benzine to attract attention from the shore, but no help could be given. A lifeboat equipped with, say, two 20 h.p. engines could have gone out when even the fishing launches could not venture. Large sums were collected all over the country for art unions, etc., out nothing was done to safeguard those engaged in the fishing industry, who carried on their work under the most hazardous conditions. If a lifeboat were made available at Island Bay it could cover the whole of Cook Strait, and it might be the means of saving many lives in cases where fishing launches or yachts became distressed. Only one permanent man would be required, since there would be plenty of volunteers among the fishermen if a call for assistance were receiwd. Mr Perano estimated that a suitable lifeboat, shed, and slipway would cost about £3OOO. “It is no use waiting for a repetition of Tuesday's disaster,” concluded Mr Perano. “It may not occur for another five or ten years, but now that the fishing fleet is growing it is imperative that something should be done to safeguard the men.” Tn a letter which has been sent to the Minister of Marine the Island Bay Life Saving and Surf Club urges that a rocket line apparatus should be made available for use in case of accidents on the coast.