BOAT ACCIDENT.

West Coast Times, Issue 731, 27 January 1868, Page 2

BOAT ACCIDENT.

Five Men Imp:drriled. So completely has the dreaded bar been divestod of ics terrors by tlio calm, fiuo weather of the past week that the frailest of the watermen's skiffs might have travcrso-I it with impunity, and intleod not a. few boats have crossed tho bar since Wednesday last the majority being bound upon fishing expeditions to the roadstead from which (hoy have almost invariably returned swimming deep under tho weight of the finny spoil taken. This success and immunity from accident tended to increase the number of aspirants for the fame which is supposed to belong to the exploit of crossing the bar in an open boat, and accordingly six or seven tiny craft3— the biggest being a small whaJeboat only — ran out on Saturday, and cruised about tho roadstead, their return inside being effected without difficulty or risk, as scarcely a ripple broke the bar's smooth surface. Ths fishermen wore early astir yesterday, but as tho weather had a suspicions appearance, only two boats loft the river — one of them a waterman's skiff, being manned by a crew of five : the other, a still lighter bont, having only two men on board. A singular and very thick mist spread tho roadstead about ten o'clock, and as the appearance of the weather was not assuring, the boats hastened to get inside again, the way being led by the larger one. Tho channel j through the bar was quite clear of suvf, but I light rollers broke upon the beach and tho points of the spits. Mistaking tho course in the mist the boat was kept a, little too far north, and got amongst the breakers off tho Spit's point. She safely rode tho first two that struck her, but the third was too heavy and turned the unfortunate little craft; bottom up, and left the men struggling for life in the water. Two of them regained the boat and clung to her bottom, but the others being good swimmers managed to get rid of the heavier portions of their clothing, and then struck out in the direction of the other boat which, strange to say, mado'no effort to assist them, tho men being apparently too frightened to approach tho rollers. At this critical juncture tho tug Lioness arrived upon tho scene on r her return to the river, having just towed out the Sarah and Mary. She was steaming dead slow through the fog, which just then lifting a littlo the loadsman caught sight of tho boat and the men swimming. Tho alarm was at once girai, and, without hositating a moment, Captain Macmekan slued his vessel head to sea, and then backed astern until within reach of his fellow-creatures so deadly imperilled, and whom ono after tho other ho had the satisfaction of rescuing by moans of heaving lines only, as it was not found necessary to lower a boat. lie then picked up the other boat (which was lying upon her oars just clear of tho break) and crossed the bar, the weather having cleared up again by that time. Hearing that the swamped boat had been left behind, the harbor whale boat was sent out to bring her in, and did so without incurring extraordinary risk, as the surf running was very light, indeed we are full of surprise that such an accident should have occurred under the circumstances. At the same time, fishermen and pleasureseekers cannot use to*much caution when on the bar, as even on tho calmest days blind rollers will rise heavy enough to swamp a good sized boat, if she is not properly handled.