STORM STRIKES LAUNCHES

Taranaki Daily News, 26 September 1933, Page 6

STORM STRIKES LAUNCHES

ONE VESSEL DISAPPEARS FATE OF FOUR MEN NOT KNOWN. SUDDEN GALE AT WELLINGTON. UNAVAILING SEARCH BY AIRBy Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. A southerly gale which sprang up at 6 o’clock this morning put a sudden stop to fishing operations of the Island Bay launches in the vicinity of Baring, Head, and the Harbour Board’s tug Toia had to be sent out to the assistance of one of the launches, the Santina, which nad an engine breakdown. Seven launches left Island Bay about 4 o’clock this morning for the daily fishing. When the gale commenced they put back, with the exception of the Santina and another launch which stood by to see if she could be of assistance. The latter, however, was not powerful enough to take the other boat in tow and she came in to seek the assistance of the Toia. The launches were unable to get into Island Bay owing to the severity of the storm, and except for one, which went to Balena Bay, they made for the boat harbour, where they arrived at 9 o clock, about the time the Toia left the wharves. At 10 o’clock the trawler Futurist was passing in the vicinity of Baring Head, but saw nothing of the Santina. She was about four miles off the point and visibility was poor owing to the big sea running and passing showers of rain. The Santina, a motor launch about 32 feet long and driven by a 16 h.p. engine, is owned by Mr- V. Costa, Trent Street, Island Bay, who is among those on board. In addition to two other Italians, the crew included a youth, Ron Alley, aged about 17 years, who only recently joined the boat. After the Toia’ returned to port at LlO p.m. without seeing anything of the Santina it was decided to make a search by air, and about 2.20 p.m. Flight-Lieu-tenant G. B. Bolt, accompanied by Mr. K. Anderson, left Rongotai aerodrome in one of the Wellington Aero Club’s Gipsy Moth machines to look for the launch. Flight-Lieutenant Bolt returned at 3.15 p.m. and reported he had searched the cost up to where Wairarapa Lake enters Palliser Bay and had seen nothing of the launch.

Grave fears for the safety of the crew were entertained when pieces of wreckage, believed to- be part of the missing launch, were washed up at Breaker Bay during the afternoon. The crew comprised Vincisco Costa, aged 50 (skipper), 24 Trent Street, Island Bay, Paolo Panozzo, aged 42, 11 Trent Street, Island Bay, Generara Amitrano, aged 40, 18 Beef Street, Island Bay, and Ronald Frank Alley, aged 15, 18 Reef Street, Island Bay.

The search will be continued to-mor-row at daybreak. Mr. A. Eastbourne, acompanied by a number of residents from the bay, will leave for Pencarrow lighthouse to comb the coast in that vicinity. Other, parties will leave in launches from Island Bay.