BOATING ACCIDENT.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 14399, 6 January 1911, Page 3

BOATING ACCIDENT.

A GALLANT RESCUE. Per Press Association. WAIHI, Jan. 4. A sensational boating accident occurred on Thursday evening at Boweutoivn Heads, whore a number of Viailu residents are camped lor the holidays. four men—£. Edwards, W . Moran, J O’Brien, and W. Richards—left the beach in a small open sailing boat for the upper harbour. The latter two landed at Matakaua Island for the purpose of snipe shooting. _ When the boat wat over a mile off Kauri Point the throat of the gaff slipped from the mast, causing the sail to blow out at capsized immediately and sank. Edwards, though unable to swim, exhibited great presence of mind. Moran constructed a temporary raft from two oars and a fishboard, to which Edwards clung, and Moran then swam with the raft, directing its course to Matakana Island, against a strong ebb tide and in a heavy gale. . The night was dark, and owing to the strong current Moran missed his objective point, being gradually drawn into the channel by the current, which runs over the bar to sea at a terrific rate. At this critical moment the cries oi both men wore hoard on the island by O’Brien and Richards, who entered the water off the last jut of the island and succeeded in getting both men safely ashore a minute later. Edwards was in a scmi-uneonscious state, but was restored on application of hot sand and rubbing. Richards and O’Brien then attracted the attention of some campers at the heads hr firing guns and lighting fires, and the whole party were eventually taken off in a motor launch. Edwards and Moran were two hours in the water, and Moran swam about two and a half miles in a choppy sea. Tile boat is the identical craft winch recently capsized with Flavin and others. Moran’s conduct is highly commended, and it is suggested locally that his galiant behaviour should he represented to the proper authorities with a view to suitable recognition.