A NIGHT ADVENTURE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1642, 8 January 1913, Page 7

A NIGHT ADVENTURE.

BEAMAN'S, PERILOUS EXPERIENCE. '•' (By TeleßTaph.—Spooial OorrespondeDt.) '•■'.. '■'i..' '', ■' Auckland, January 7. .A seaman belonging to a local scow had ,» perilous experience on, Friday '■ evening. ' rhroughout. tho greater. part of ■ the night '.ho was tossed about in'a small dinghy at the mercy of the wind and waves., \ Tho 6cow to .which tte seaman belonged was anchored in Shoal Bay on tho north . sido.of tho harbour. The inan visited; ' Auokland earlier in tho day, and boarded ; tho>9; p.m.,' ferry steamer, arid went to; where to had left: his' dinghy, •rowing 'baokito the bay ,whero the scow 'was''anchored.;:■-'He wag in the act of 'throwing'.,'oiie of the.oars on board when : itstipped into the water. Whilo he was endeavouring to recover,.■ tho t»? uie ; dinghy drifted 'away from tJw scow;' Tho /seaman then endeavoiuxl to paddle back \tb. the scow with iiire onooar, but owing -to tho wind, the tide, and .the rough sea ho was unable to cahj; out :his intention ■tin- spite of frantic .'efforts.'' Tho dinghy 'was now beyond control,'and soon drifted to.what' is known as tho "Boiling. Pot," where a number of currents: meet. off •• Northcote Point.. For two hours the small .boat swirled Ground, and round,:.ini.the seething waters,,and to add to the danger of tho adventure the:sea-became rougher and: the wind :blew with, greater force, ':'; Evontnally, > to' the seaman's great relief, Ytha dinghy 'ceased to'swirl, having gradu'•nlly'mbved away froiri the "Boiling Pot.' Even?'then the ■follower', of the.sea. Was unable to' guide '-his little craft and, .exhausted with,his previouJ-efforts. .V had perforce, to 7. allow tho- dinghy,.to. ;drift; After some hours-the; Veaman saw..the black hull-of;, the Wellington .loom,, op in the darkness,-and with a few strokes ■ of''.the' paddle, .he ;brought; the/dinghy, the hulk, and scrambled aboard. ;It ,was.,theni : atont three .o'clock 'on; Sat-urday-morning.;^;--,f ::>;{:■.;