A THAMES THRILL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 20075, 11 October 1920, Page 3

A THAMES THRILL.

ESCAPE FROM SUBMERGED TANK. V ' An exciting duel of wits between the Sea Scouts and Mr Mnskelyne and his associates took place on the' Thames. The duel between the parties, it explains, really began during the recent jamboree at Olympia. On that occasion the Sea Scouts challenged Mr Val Walker, who makes a. hobby, of escaping from anything that is haired ami bolted, .to find a, way out of a safe of their building. He did so, and was promptly challenged to a far more strenuous test. "Come to our"training ship, the. Northnmlpon,” said the Sea Scouts,aud release yourself from a prison of -which yon shall know nothing betore you step on board,” and again the challenge was accepted. Accordingly Captain Alal/.ard and Mr Ncvil Alaskclyno held a reception in the Northampton, and Mr AValkcr was shown the forbidding task that awaited him. The Sea Scmiits■ had prepared a Ricci water tank capable of 1 holding about sixty gallons of water, with a lid firmly secured by two bolts. In the upper, half M the walls air-holes had been driven, and Air AValkcr was in-formed-that after lie had been securely imprisoned by the captain of the Northampton he would be lowered into tho waters of the Thames, the interior of the lank would be inevitably flooded, ami ho could then make his escape the j best way he could. Air Walker promised to do his best, and, to the •great delight ol all the small boys who could liml an inch ot room on ihc Embankment, .the preparations began. ' Air ' U aiker estimated that ,he could release himself trom his steel prison in twenty seconds, and time after time tho tank was lowered'into the- river for that period, to make certain that all the Sec. Scouts knew which lopes to pull at the critical-moment. AVhcu he was satisfied 011 this point, he stepped into the tank, the captain ,oi the Northampton screwed home the holts, and made asmtrance doubly sure .with a spanner. The tank was swung nut on a davit unci unceremoniously dropped into the Thames. Certain it is that Air Walker was inside the tank when it was put into the water; equally certain it is that within ten seconds lie had made his’escape-, and within a minute the tank wa* being hauled 011 hoard again with the bolts still securely in position. The Sea Scouts marvelled greatly; Ah- Alaskelyne and his friends smiled grimlv, and the spectators on shore and on the Northampton cheered lustily.