NARROW ESCAPE FROM DROWNING.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VIII, Issue 1336, 2 June 1881, Page 2

NARROW ESCAPE FROM DROWNING.

(To the Editor of the Herald.)

Sir, — Referring to your notice as above, wo beg to state aa far aa Mr. Johnston's life was endangered in coming over the bar in the life-boat on the evening of last Tuesday, much more has been made of the — what you call a narrow escape from drowning — than is true. Mr. Johnston, as the boat was crossing the bar, lost his presence of mind, and stood up instead of keeping his seat, in doing so he lost his footing and fell overboard. Instead of heating shouts to swim for the shore, he was only told to walk on shore, which he did. The reason the boat took any water in was because of the coxwain broaching the boat to on Mr. Johnston falling overboard. Had Mr. Johnston kept his seat, as he should have done, there would have been no occasion to give the newspapers a chance of scaring the friends of the supposed-endangered passenger. Much more has been said in this affair than is called for. Our life-boat is known to be one of the best in New Zealand, and the two principal men in charge are so well known here, they having worked together for the last seven years, to be skilful boatmen, which can be certified to by a large number of the citizens of this town. With reference to the boatman, Mr. Walsh, being washed overboard, this is not true, as he had no ocaasion to leave his seat at all. So far as Mr. Johnston's overcoat is concerned, that was taken off before going on board the Kiwi and never put on afterwards. We are, Sir, Yours respectfully, Kennedy & Bennett.