“For Those in Peril on The Sea”

Arawa Guerilla, Issue 16, 1 July 1943, Page 10

“For Those in Peril on The Sea”

A party of bold hearts the other Sunday took the launch “Guerilla I” for a spin on the lake. This has been done many times and oft and would be no occasion for remark except that this time they could not get home.

The reason was that the good ship ran out of “juice” and, quite definitely, stopped. Perhaps the correct nautical expression is “lay to”; anyhow the vessel ceased to progress. Its stalwart crew were disconcerted to find that, such being the case, there wasn’t very much they could do about it. They couldn’t ring for a breakdown van. They were a very long way from the shore and the winds and the wild fowl mocked their calls for help.

Time marched on in the usual manner. A council of war was called and a plan evolved. The hours of daylight, it was decided, offered no hope of succour. Only night could save them. In this respect it was pointed out they were betting on a pretty safe thing as night, it could reasonably be presumed, would eventually fall. It did. The crew was galvanised to action. Soaking some waste in oil, they attached it to a boat-hook and set it alight. With this they sent out their distress signals. To the Rescue. Was their S.O.S. observed? It was. It was seen by the ever-vigilant Admiral Hollows, by this time alarmed by the fact that his flagship was an hour and three-quarters overdue. “Avast, you lubbers,” he cried and, continuing to mouth similar nautical terms leaped aboard his cutter or pinnace and bravely facing the dark, watery wastes, set out on his errand of mercy. Over the still waters his voice was heard from afar, “Excelsior! Once aboard the lugger . . .” The winds swallowed the rest.

The rest is history. No lives were lost. The rescuer rescued the whole bunch and salvaged their ship. We view with disfavour the carping critic who suggested that possibly Capt. Hollows had drained the fuel tank himself so that he would have an opportunity to stage a brilliant rescue and so get himself written up in “Guerilla” again. But however noble the brow there is always some puny creature who would wrest the laurels from it.