A NIGHT OF TERROR

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16869, 5 February 1929, Page 11

A NIGHT OF TERROR

SWEPT OUT TO SEA SEVEN FEOPLE IN OPEN BOAT SUVA. January 25. A boat containing seven people was swept out to sea on Sunday night and none of the seven thought that thoj would ever reach Suva, to tell the story. It was a night of terror for them and a night of extreme, hardship which they will never forget. The party consisted of Mr. and Mrs. Clark Blakelock. Mrs. Blakelock's sister, Miss Tresevant, Messrs. .1. makelock and K. fierns, and two boys, Tommy Blakelock and George Gems, both aged about seven. Tbev decided to leave Navua and come along io Suva in a 20ft. open sailing boat. timing the night they realised that their equipment was about as poor as it could possibly be when a hurricane was brewing. They bad only two oars and no food. Fortunately they bad a benzine tin'of water and'another piece of luck was the finding in the bottom of the boat of a pump, which enabled I hem to keep ahead of the water which came in over the side. The parly reached the Bat Tail Passage about 6 o'clock, but could make no headway against the strong wind and current, and finally found themselves carried right- out to sea. They were fortunate in steering clear of the reef. All night I hey sailed back and lure, putting about when they beard Ibe roar of the reef become too loud. A big sea was running and the rain came down in torrents. There was not even a piece of canvas with which the rain and cold could be, kept off the women and children in the party. They just sat in the. water in the bottom of the boat and anxiously awaited the dawn, fearing at times that daylight would see no sign of the little craft or its seven occupants. . As visibility cleared about seven in the. morning, the party found they were off Naqara Island, so they tacked inshore and landed near Mr. C. Rounds' home. The night had taken its toll 'and every member of the party was weak with hunger. They had sat hunched up to stay the pangs and to keep themselves steady as the little craft rolled and tossed like, a cork, so that when they tried to go ashore it was only with the greatest pain that they clambered out of the boat. From Mr. Bounds the famished people received food, which put new heart into them, and they started off again for Suva at 11 o'clock, despite the fact that the wind was blowing almost a gale They experienced very rough conditions all 'the way in. Nearing the harbor (hey were taken in tow by the Lady Esc'ott, a Government, launch, which had been sent out to pick them up. The party reached Suva at 6 o'clock on Monday' evening, having started out from Navua at 11 o'clock on the previous day on a journey of less I ban 7)0 miles. --Auckland Herald correspondent.