A PERILOUS EXPERIENCE.

Wanganui Chronicle, Issue 12824, 14 October 1911, Page 5

A PERILOUS EXPERIENCE.

EXCITING ADVENTURE AT THF CHA.THAMS.

Win . Oct. 13. VVmlst engaged in fishing operations at Chatham Islands last month, tW men named J O'Dey, R. Smyiie, and A. Uough had rather an exciting ex . penence. O'Dey and Smylie haveibe^n *.°. r™c Ppt^two months in the employ "f.tl'o Chatham Islands Fishing Co" while Cloughis a resident of Pitt Is+?p^°t iAil*S ust 24, th o>Dey to()k over ok Fl^ ,Islana a 5 h.p. motor launch, •A) tiiQt long, -with a beam of 8 feet in crder to .start in the fishing industry with the other men. They had not long made a start when their troubles beg ffnV>-.? IlT^ lan/' ay ' Sftptomber 25, when ott J itt Island., they found themselves caught in a strong (southerly gale, which laised a high sea, and they decided to sock shelter as quickly- as possible. IJioy made for Goodman's Harbour, a .and-locked place about three acres in extent. There was no beach, only the rugged cliffs encircled the foresnore. .Although the spot was supposed to be entirely free from the bad elements of the weather. A southerly gale raged on tho following Wednesday, and the occupants of the boat found themselves'practically hemmed in, a small entrance being tho only outlet to the sea. On tho Thursday an attempt was mado to get out of the place, the water having risen at this time 30 feet above ordinary high water mark, but their ettorts proved futile. On tho following day, ono of tho heaviest southerly gales that has visited the island for years was raging, and the craft began to drag her moorings, and the party was in ,t perilous position. Tho night passed without mishap, but next morning tho sea got the better of the boat, and dashed her into matchwood on" the rocks, the party jumping out in the nick of time. A light 29ft whaleboat, which was in tow. also met with a simi* lar fate. For three weeks TTie three men roamed about the island, spending their leisure hrmrs in pig-hunting. They were well cared for by the residents, and on October 10 the Himitangi called at the island, and they w£re taken aboard, after havTng been three weeks and two days from Onengal i Mr O'Dey stated that his loss was about £250, Tm£ ho intends to purchaso another boat and return to the island as soon as possible.