GALLANT CONDUCT.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1535, 3 September 1912, Page 4

GALLANT CONDUCT.

BY MEN OF S.S. HAUPIRI.

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) • Gisborne, September 2. Further particulars of the steamer Haupiri's mishap (reported- yesterday) showthat one boat was swamped ou Friday. The crew remained ashore all'night. Ou Saturday another boat camo ashore- to assist. At 1 p.m. Me. Banks, third officer, seeing the boat dragging hex anchors inside.tho reef, and that there was a man aboard it in a precarious condition, with the assistance • of local residents, launched a boat and endeavoured to get him ashore, but \Vas unable to reach th« man owing to the heavy surf. Mr. Bauks then took a line, plunged overboard, and tried to swim to him. In tho attempt Mr. Banks nearly lost his life, only the strenuous work of the men in his own boat saving him. Mr. Banks was pulled in in an exhausted condition. At 3.p.m. the ships launch was sent ashore in charge of Mr. White, tho chief engineer, but in endeavouring to reach the anchored boat the launch capsized.

Mr. White and his companion, Mr. Spargo, tho seoond engineer, had a strenuous swim, but landed sufely. Seaman Crandell, in tho anchored boat, finding that the surf wns increasing, cut the painter, and brought tho boat ashore, in gallant style. Night now coming on, the Haupiriput to sea, with all the officers and sailors ashore, returning on Sunday bo pick up boats and launch, which arc being repaired. -