BOAT, CAPSIZED IN SURF.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 10706, 31 August 1896, Page 3

BOAT, CAPSIZED IN SURF.

♦- NARROW ESCAPE OF TWO MEN. About 11 o'clock on Sunday morning two young men, named Raphael Thompson, a recent arrival from England, and F. Buckley, the well-known footballer, were thrown out of a boat in the surf near the gas works, and had it not been for the timely assistance of James Weale, the second Bon of Mr B. Beale, of Curriestreet, Thompgon, who could not swim, would have been drowned. The two young men had gone out in a seventeen feofc boat, the tide being near full, with a nasty break on some distaice out. They had successfully negotiated the breakers once, and weie making a second experiment when they got too close to the break of a roller, which turned the boat over, and threw the two occupants into the water, about 100 yards from the shore. Buckley at once struok out for the shore, but Thompson was unable to do so, and managed to keep himself afloat by dog paddling and treading water. Several persons witnessed the accident from the beach, and two of them, James Weale and A. Howell, immediately stripped and swam out to the rescue, as it was seen that the men struggling in the water were in trouble. Weale swam to the assistance of Thompson, who was tho farthest out, and brought him ashore. Howell lent Buckley assistance. Both the rescued were in a bad stato when they were brought to land, Buckley appearing to be the most distressed. Thompion, however, later on showed the effects of tho affair, and had to retire to bed. Great credit is due to James Weale for the plucky way he went to Thompson's assistance, and Howell is also entitled to praise for the part he took in the rescue.