'MAN OVERBOARD !'

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XVI, Issue XIII, 28 March 1896, Page 353

'MAN OVERBOARD !'

The following realistic account of a man who had fallen overboard is interesting as showing the great difficulty there is in affording him assistance in such a case. The rescued man in this instance was the captain of a small fishing schooner, and this is how he relates his experiences :— ‘ When the crew had cast off the stops, I reached for

the downhaul to clear it as they hoisted. The wind just at that moment caught the canvas, and with a slat it came to the leeward, striking me in the back, and in an instant I was twenty feet away and overboard. I struck the water face down, but fortunately I was to the leeward, and as I came up I saw the craft broadside on drifting toward me. One of my men, named Marion, saw me disappear, and quick as a flash sent a coil of rope spinning after me. His aim was true, and as I came up the rope lay against my arms, and I grabbed it.

‘ I was soon alongside, but in the worst part of my scrape. The vessel was rolling fearfully, while the cross seas threw me around like a ball—one moment I would bang against her side and the next be far away. The reef tackle soon swung toward me, and I grabbed it ; but I didn’t find my new hold any improvement. I was thrown in all directions, but held on. I swallowed lots of water, and the wrenching I got was fast using me up.

*My men would have had hard work lifting me up with my wet clothes had the vessel been at the wharf, as I weigh more than 200 pounds, and, excited as they were, it was useless for them to try it there, I told them I couldn’t hold on much longer, and to make fast a rope and launch a dory. After many unsuccessful attempts they managed to get a boat over the rail, but no one came in her. I knew I could not get in alone, and shouted for some one to come in her.

‘ They hauled the boat back as near as possible, and making a daring leap, two brothers, August and Manuel Louis, reached the dory, which the others rapidly let drift down to me. There was still danger of a capsize, and having three men in the water instead of one, but the boys, after a struggle, got me in, and we were soon on the deck.