FIGHTING THE TIDE

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 210, 24 November 1927, Page 13

FIGHTING THE TIDE

RANGITOTO DISASTERS LONG SWIMS RECALLED Feats of endurance in the dangerous tide rip that swirls past the Rangitoto Beacon are recalled by the performance of Mr. John Easdown, who on Saturday evening swam several miles from an upturned boat to Rangitoto Island. Fights for life in the deceiving waters that stretch from Rangitoto to Tiri Tiri are by no means rare. About 10 or 12 years ago a party of five from the city set out for Whangaparaoa, and three miles beyond Milford the boat turned over. One of the party was dragged down and the other four commenced swimming against a headwind for Milford. A party of picnickers was able to help one swimmer out of the waves, but a companion sank when within only 100 yards from the beach. Old hands may also recollect an unsolved mystery of Takapuna Beach, about 40 years ago. At that time the area, was not inhabited but a wayfarer travelling north along the beach was startled at seeing a corpse sitting on the sand above high water mark. The bodv was naked except for a handkerchief containing sovereigns tied about the waist. It was surmised that the man had quitted a passing vessel, and though he reached the shore lie was too exhausted to get further and died from exposure. Romance lingers about a story of Little Barrier. a . , A half-caste and his Maori girl-wife set off in a whale-boat from the Little Barrier to reach Big Barrier. Half-way across the boat turned over, but the Maori girl, after hours of ceaseless effort righted the boat and placed her husband in it. Both survived and lived for many years at Omaha, where they were well known.