Marooned on Whale Island

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 10, 26 March 1947, Page 5

Marooned on Whale Island

OPOTIKI PARTY’S EXPERIENCE LAUNCHES ENCOUNTER STORM LIVED ON GOATS FLESH After being missing from Opotiki for a period of two days during which they encountered mountainous seas in the Eastern Bay of Plenty, and were marooned on Whale Island for a day and two nights at the height of an easterly storm and gale, a party of twenty-eight (including three women) made their way over the Whakatane bar in the launches Aio and Edna at 8.30 a.m. on Tuesday morning. .

The story behind their unenviable experiences reads like a novel and one and all, apparently none the worse for their hardships, join wholeheartedly in praising the Maori members of the party, who by dint of their initiative and practical handling of the series of desperate situations must. have saved them all over and over again. Leaving Opotiki at 6 a.m. on Sunday morning a party of eighteen men in the Aio made for White Island on a fishing excursion. The weather was overcast at the time, but the sea reasonably smooth. Five miles off the island the . weather broke and fanned by a rising easterly the sea became so rough that the trip was abandoned and it was decided to make for Whale Island for shelter. The island was made at 1 a.m. and lying in the lee for two hours, the party finally decided to brave the storm and make for the Opotiki Heads. Second Launch Encountered The storm intensified as they gained the open sea and when some five miles out they encountered the launch Edna, also from Opotiki with a party of ten (including three ladies) apparently having engine trouble. The position of the second launch was precarious and with seas sweeping her, it was decided by the Aio master, Mr Fred Mokomoko, to take her in' tow and to risk the trip back to the lee of Whale Island. ~ The delicate operation of getting a line aboard from the disabled vessel was successfully accomplished and the tw'o-hour tow through driving squalls and lashing waves achieved without incident other than the stoving of the Edna’s dinghy. Mr G. Hustler, owner of the Edna, decided to send his party ashore, in the growing darkness, and eventually twenty-four persons were landed safely at Sulphur Bay, the others remaining on board. Heavy rain commenced to fall but the ladies were made as comfortable as pos-

sible in some caves, while the men set about building shelters andjighting large fires from driftwood, by which it*was possible to dry their clothing. Most of the party were fatigued and hungry, but the. night was spent under some sort of shelter constructed from trees and grasses. Only Dinghy Lost The only dinghy now at the disposal of the party was lost overnight, when a heavy squall blowing up unexpectedly caused the Edna to slip her moorings and crash into the Aio’s boat breaking her stem. Thus the party was deprived of their only means of reaching the launches in deep water. The Maoris of the party under -Mr Joe Herewini organised a hunt for food for the now famished party. Nine goats were rounded up and seven selected and finally killed, dressed and cooked. Those left aboard the launches indulged in a little line fishing and floated .a few fish ashore to vary-the diet, though the stormy conditions made fishing operations difficult. The shore party however fared well enough on the goat flesh though they claim that it was made palateable only through the Maori mode of cooking, by the traditional hangi. Monday’s Storm

A thunder storm broke 'on Monday morning and made it impossible to consider reaching the boats anchored out in the bay, so the marooned party decided to spend yet another miserable f day and night on the island. 1 Better shelters were constructed and more food floated ashore from the launches. That night substantial fires were built, but the rain fell in torrents and every one was again wet through, and cold and hungry awaited the first streak of dawn, n the morning at 5 a.m. it was decided that unless they were prepared to brave the storm and make for Whakatane (seven' miles away) they would be having serious trouble through lack of food and shelter. Lying stern to stern the boats made for the shore, -and with the Edna’s bow resting on the beach one by one the party waded out and climbed aboard, the ladies being carried.

The whole operation was safely executed and both boats made for Whakatane without further mishap. On arrival they, were the guests of the of the N.S.S. Co’s. M.V. Toa, who supplied them with warm food and dry clothing, while the ladies were taken in by Mrs T. Hall and given first class hospitality. All pay a tribute to the magnificent work of Mr T. Paewini, engineer to the Aio, who at all times stayed by his engine, which never failed throughout the ordeal.