GETTING A LINE ASHORE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16750, 3 June 1922, Page 9

GETTING A LINE ASHORE.

BRAVERY OF KATOA’S CREW. (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND. June 3. Two of the crew of the Wiltshire had attempted to get lines ashore repeatedly by floating them on timber. The Katoa’s party, seeing these efforts, climbed down 100 feet of an almost sheer drop to the face of the cliff and scrambled out to reach the lines where the heavy seas were breaking with thunderous roar. All were nearly overwhelmed by each wave as the}- lay flat ou the rock clinging with fingers and toes. At last the line floated near, but was caught in the rocks. Seaman Kohoe plunged into the surf, secured 1 lie line and got back to the rocks, but ho narrowly escaped being hurled to death on the rocks by the immense seas. Tho life line was carried up tho cliff to a pie carious position and a heavier line was then drawn up . Residents arrived from all over the island when informed by telephone and helped as directed. The rope was tied to a pohutukawa tree on the cliff and by great pains an endless pulley was rigged up. TRYING EXPERIENCES OF* RESCUERS. The Katoa’s men had already been up all night in heavy weather with little breakfast and were very fatigued. They managed to get four ashore l>efore dark but lack of a suitable pulley on the wreck and the sag of the rope in the sea meant heavy pulling. The position of those on the cliff was precarious. There was a muddy ledge beneath sloping down to the precipice and protected only by a branch of the tree. During the night those on the wreck signalled with morse but the shore narty had no lamp. The shore party huddled together all night in pouring rain. Three residents, one an old and sick man, came across the island late in the afternoon and arrived in darkness. They kept walking most of the night to keep warm. Those on shore were chilled to the bone.