ACCIDENT AT THE NORTH SHORE, AUCKLAND.
[KvjsNiKa Stab, July 10.] One of the most wonderful escapes that could be imagined took place on Saturday, at Holme's Wharf, North Shoi'o. During the course of one of the mos>t violent squalls, a considerable number of persons wore standing in shelter of a verandah amusing themselves watching the little house at the point of the jetty, under the influence of the wind, and declaring in the usual manner, " There it goes ! " "No it does not !" " There it goes !" when the little shed was seen to topple over into the boiling sea, and break to pieces. A loud guffaw arose from the party, which was speedily changed when four or five little heads were seen bobbing about in the waves. An instantaneous rush
was made for the beach, a shed was burst open, and a boat taken out and immediately launched. Meantime, one of the lads, a son of Mr Wynn's struck out boldly for the shore, and saved himself; another lad of the name of Murray, could swim a little, but being struck on the head was disabled and was sinking when rescued. Three other boys, one of them a son of Captain M' Dongali's could not swim, and their escape is most remarkable. The greatest credit is due to the persons taking part in the rescue. One gentleman stripped and plunged into the sea, and reaching one of the boys, was just able to give him a push shorewards, when being seized with a violent cramp owing to the intense cold, he had considerable difficulty in reaching shore himself. The boys were all saved, though considerable anxiety was felt for some time as to whether some children might not have been in the shed at the time it was carried over. The boys themselves naturally had a confused recollection of the whole affair. It appears that some boys, fearing that the little waiting house would be blown over, had left it a few minutes previously ; and the boys remaining were seated on the benches, so that they were carried bodily over. | Most fortunately, the little building had j burst open in going over. Had it been otherwise the lads cooped up in the building would have been unable to j get out, and must inevitably have been drowned. Altogether, the escape has been one of the most singular that has occurred for a long time in the district.
ACCIDENT AT THE NORTH SHORE, AUCKLAND.
Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3255, 19 July 1871, Page 3
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