LAUNCH AT MARCY OF STORM

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 662, 14 May 1929, Page 1

LAUNCH AT MARCY OF STORM

DRIVEN ASHORE IN GALE

Crew Safe After Ordeal TWO DAYS SEVERE BUFFETING BATTERED and buffeted by the fierce storm raging in the Hauraki Gulf for the past two days, and with her engine out of order, the launch Ngaru, reported missing from Coromandel Harbour since Sunday morning with seven men aboard, was driven ashore at the north-eastern end of Whangaparaoa Peninsula at 2 o’clock this morning. All the crew were safe and well despite their 40 hours of exposure to the gale.

The Ngaru, owned by Mr. Pou Pickering, left Coromandel Harbour at 11 a.m. on Sunday on a short pleasure cruise off the harbour. A fierce easterly gale came up later in the day and the gravest fears were entertained for the safety of the launch. Tip till a late hour last night a diligent search was prosecuted, but no trace of the Ngaru could be found. The crew were:

Captain E. J. Grogan, aged 50, of 57 East Street, Newton. Auckland, master of the scow Waiti, married, with six children. W. McGee, aged 50, bush cook, of Coromandel.

A. Hopkinson, aged 27, son of the proprietress of the Coromandel Hotel. Eric McGregor, aged 35, of Coromandel. Patrick McGregor, aged 10, brother of Eric McGregor, also of Coromandel. Joseph Coghlan, aged 70, of Coromandel. P. O'Dowd, aged 35, of Coromandel. With the exception of Captain Grogan the men were unmarried.

The launch was recently purchased by Mr. Pickering from Captain R. C. Hammond, of Auckland. . It was ,12ft. long and carried a lug sail common to this class of vessel, and had been anchored in Coromandel Harbour since its purchase. battered by storm The men had an unenviable experience. When the gale came up and they attempted to get back to Coromandel Harbour the engine failed and they were driven out into the Hauraki Gulf, entirely at the mercy of the storm. . .. , , Their little craft was battered and buffeted by the heavy seas running and they were unable to run for shelter in any of the bays along the coast. Their misery was heightened by lack of food and water. When the launch left Coromandel there was only sufficient provisions and water for one meal. Drenched and shivering in the intense cold, hungry, and w-ith their thirst heightened by the salt sting of the waves that kept breaking over the craft the men sat shivering through the gale. They did not expect that their boat would weather the storm, but the little craft rode it out, though driven out and across the Hauraki Gulf, where the full force of the gale was met. For 40 hours the men endured pri-

vation and hardship, and at 2 o’clock this morning they were opposite Whangaparaoa Peninsula, the boat being driven ashore on the northeastern side shortly afterwards. The men got ashore safely, but the launch had a hole knocked in her bottom. She suffered comparatively little damage, however. CONSIDERABLE ANXIETY The men landed about three miles from the homestead of Mr. R. Shakespear, of Whangaparaoa, and reached his place about 7 o’clock this morning, where they were given food and warm clothing. Arrangements were made for their relatives to be notified and they were picked up by a Manly launch this morning, expecting to arrive in Auckland shortly after 1.30 o’clock this afternoon. Anxiety has been keen at Coromandel, as the easterly gale, accompanied by thunder and lightning, developed in force. A report was received from Mr. Claude Gibb, inpector of fisheries, that the launch had been seen sheltering from the gale about five miles from Coromandel. At 1 o’clock on Monday morning Messrs. Fred and John Strongman put out in their 45ft launch Roa to find the missing men, but after combing all the bays and inlets had to report no success when they returned to the Coromandel Harbour. The missing launch had been driven far out into the Gulf by this time. Telephone and telegraph trouble prevented communication with Port Charles and the Great Barrier, but inquiry at Waiheke disclosed no trace of the boat, while a rumour that launches were sheltering at Amodeo Bay, four miles south of Colville Heads, was investigated with no trace of the Ngaru. The anxiety of friends and relatives of the missing men was relieved when the news of their safety came through early this morning. SCOW ASHORE At 7.30 a.m. yesterday morning the scow Waiti, commanded by Captain Grogan, one of the crew of the Ngaru, broke from her moorings at the Coromandel Wharf, snapping five strong lines, drifted across the harbour in the gale and piled up at Ruffin’s Point. The scow was owned by Mr. A. W. Bryant, of Auckland. It arrived at Coromandel on Sunday with 90 tons of coal for the Hauraki Goldmining Company, part of which was dicharged on Saturday. An examination of the stranded scow yesterday shows that she can be removed from the reef safely. Another launch was said to have been wrecked near Kuaotunu, but is now reported to have arrived safely at Kennedy’s Bay.