BLANKET OF FOG

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 122, 26 May 1933, Page 8

BLANKET OF FOG

AN AUCKLAND VISITATION DIVE INTO HARBOUR MOTORIST’S CLOSE CALL. AUCKLAND, May 24. A heavy blanket of fog settled over the harbour and low-lying suburbs last evening and did not finally disperse until shortly before 8 o’clock this morning. Motorists, tram-drivers, and masters of vessels had to exercise the greatest caution and horns, bells, and ciiens were sounded at frequent intervals. A remarkable escape from injury aud drowning was experienced by a young Remuera resident, Mr. R. D. Horton, about 2 o’clock this morning, when he mistook the road and drove his saloon car over the wharf and plunged into the hai’uour on the western waterfront. Returning from Herne Bay in the dense fog, which had enveloped the city and harbour, he was making for Customs Street and took the route via Fanshawe Street and the City Markets. After passing along the back of Turners and Growers’ building, and being under the impression that the light on the viaduct which loomed through the fog were those of the Customs Street Extension, he went straight ahead instead of turning t 0 the right. When his car left lhe concrete road and reached the roughly planked wharf in front of the Government oyster depot he realised that he had mistaken the route, but not that danger was imminent. He was about to pull up when his car hit the lowrailing on the edge of the wharf and plunged into the harbour about 12 feet below. Fortunately he was not injured and w r as able to unwind the front window and scramble out of the vehicle as the water rushed in, and float to the surface. Constable Wilson, who was on duty in the vicinity, heard the car plunge into the harbour, and in response to calls of the motorist, who was cling ing to the piles, lowered a .rope and hauled him to the wharf. Oil and petrol bubbling on the sur face this morning revealed the spot where the car lay submerged and attracted a lot of sightseers. The ser vices of a diver were secured, and after he had placed the ropes round Ihe vehicle it was hauled from lhe harbour by a floating crane.