SIX LIVES LOST IN STORM

Southland Times, Issue 23142, 8 March 1937, Page 7

SIX LIVES LOST IN STORM

Launch On Rocks Near Sydney THREE SAVED AFTER HEROIC EFFORTS SWIMMER TAKES LINE AT RISK OF LIFE (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) (Received March 8, 12.5 a.m.) SYDNEY, March 7. Six men were drowned and three others were saved only after most desperate efforts by rescuers when the 32-foot launch Voyager was washed ashore at the foot of the cliffs between North Head and Blue Fish Point this afternoon. ’ The Voyager had taken a party to a fishing ground 20 miles north of Sydney, but a high wind and a rising sea forced them to turn back towards the harbour. When the vessel was nearing Sydney Heads the engine failed and the launch was soon at the mercy of the waves. Of the three men saved two were thrown on to the rocks by the sea and subsequently had to be brought 400 ft up a sheer cliff face, and the third clung to a piece of planking for nearly four hours until he was picked up by life-savers.

In spite of tremendous seas a boat was lowered from the pilot steamer Captain Cook, and a member of the crew risked his life in swimming with a rope to the Voyager. One rescue party trying to reach the two men who were thrown on the rocks was trapped for several hours by the rising tide and the force of the seas.

The Voyager’s last anchor had given away when the seaman from the Captain Cook got a line aboard. 'He then returned to the pilot steamer, but immediately strain was put on the line it parted. Attempts to get another line aboard by means of rockets failed. One man from the launch tried to swim ashore with a line, but he was unable to climb a ledge of rock, and he disappeared. Apparently after the launch struck the rocks all but four of the men were drowned at once. It is believed that some were trapped in the cabin when the launch capsized.