TRAPPED IN CABIN

Taranaki Daily News, 17 August 1935, Page 6

TRAPPED IN CABIN

MEN ON SINKING LAUNCH NARROWNESS OF ESCAPE VESSEL RAMMED BY SHIP COLLISION NEAR TIMARU By Telegraph—Press Association. Timaru, Last Night Three Timaru fishermen,. A. Bell, R. Lattimer and N. P. Bracefield, had a miraculous escape from injury or drowning at 3.30 this morning when the fishing launch Bessie of which they were the crew was rammed by the Canterbury Company’s motor vessel Breeze a few miles off the coast opposite Pareora. When the collision occurred Messrs. Bell and Lattimer were sleeping below and the impact jammed toe hatch, imprisoning them. “ . They managed to eScape through the engine room and got free before the launch dived into 12 fathoms of water. After struggling in the sea for about 10 minutes they were picked up by a boat from the Brepzfe. The Bessie, which was owned by Mr. W. Thomas, Christchurch, left Timaru for Oarnaru shortly after 2 o clock yesterday morning, Mr. Bracefield taking the helm while his colleagues slept. It was a fine clear night with a bright moon and when she was opposite Pareora she sighted the Breeze, which was en route from Dunedin to Timaru. The Breeze, of which Captain R. Stewart was in command, picked up the Bessie’s lights when the vessels were about a mile apart but as they approached it became apparent that their courses converged. Through what is thought .to have been a misunderstanding between toe two vessels the Bessie came directly across the bow Of the Breeze, which was making 10 J knots, and was struck a terrific blow slightly astern of the midships. LAUNCH SINKS QUICKLY. The extent of the damage to the launch is not known as after she . had been thrown clear on the port side of the Breeze she settled and sank within two minutes. Members of the crew of the Breeze saw her lights glimmering below them just before the little craft dived to the bottom. The crew of the Bessie were fortunate to escape with their lives for had the launch been struck amidships their chances of survival would have been negligible. A point in the men’s favour was that the Bessie was fitted with a door joining the cabin which they occupied with the engine room, for with the impact the hatch opening on the top deck jammed and the ordinary way of exit was blocked. Mr. Bell’s first impression was that the craft had gone aground hut he was alarmed to find there were several inches of water in the dabin. As the vessel heeled over he and Mr.’ Lattimer dashed through the engine zoom and on to the deck, ‘where they saw a gaping hole in the stem. Less than a minute later the Bessie went down and the three men , were ‘struggling in the water. Mr. Bell is unableto swim but supported himself on a lifebelt until picked up by a beat from the Breeze which went about after the accideht and stopped. Mr. Bracefield was wearing a heavy overcoat which hampered him severely but he managed to keep afloat until'he was .rescued s i All three men were taken aboard the Breeze, given dry clothing and a hot meal and were none the worse for their immersion. Within half an hour of the collision the Breeze was under way again. Mr. F. Oxford, superintendent of the mercantile marine, conducted a preliminary inquiry but it is not known w “ e “ the? the accident will be subject to a full marine inquiry.