HASTY ESCAPE FROM SINKING LAUNCH

Chronicle (Levin), 21 July 1947, Page 7

HASTY ESCAPE FROM SINKING LAUNCH

AUCKLAND, July 20. Rumming the 7269-ton British steamer Tower Hill as she lay at anchor in the rniddle of Auckland liarbour in the early hours of this morning, the 40ft launch Ionaero, carrying 12 passengers from Devonport to the city, sprang a serious leak aml started to'sink rapidly. In response to" hails from the launch a rope ladder wa- , put over the side of the Tower Hill am) all the passengers mauaged to serauvble to safety as the launch settled, and resumed* their trip an hour later when a second launch was despatched from Auckland. The dainaged launch was made fasi to the Tower Hill and was later towed to a shipvard where' she waS put on a slip for repairs. Owned by the Auckland Launch and Towboat Company, the Ionaero was ehartered" by the Devonport Steam Ferry Company to carry out a niglr. launcdi seyvice duripg the , .-early hour.^f rtkis mbrhing whil'Q;:^heir;:Qwn tessej ivjts -out jf cbmmissib'h. ' 'Mllne ldu|ach was- returning . from jD?eyonport toj 'Jtpv city at abput- 3.40 ;atmliu/heaUt stfUpk the 'Towef-'Hili head bri'neaf'/t?he mii The force of the impact drove the Ionaero 's stem back several inches am water gushed in through the brokeii planks. Hearing the noise of the c.ol lision and hails from the sinking launch, officers on the rniddle watch oi the Tower Hill threw a line to tlu [onaero and secured a rope ladder tthe ship's side to enable the passenger to elimb on board. The launch settle-i rapidly as gallons of water foameu through the broken - stem, and Wa.awash within ten minutes. Furthei lines were made fast to the launch b\ the helmsman who stayed on boarJ until the decks were awash. Calls foi assistanee were sent by the Tower Hili through the Musick Point radio station. i ■« ' . —