SEATOUN TRAGEDY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1689, 4 March 1913, Page 6

SEATOUN TRAGEDY.

A TALK WITH MR. POTTER. HOW HE WAS RESCUED. SMART WORK ONTHEPATEENA Mr. W. R. Potter, of the Wellington Gas Company's staff, who was tho only ono rescued of tho four who jvere capsized from tho small open boiit off tho Pinnacles at Seatoun 011 Friday afternoon last, was sufficiently recovered yesterday to visit tho office. Ho confessed to a Dominion reporter that ho had been considerably shaken by tho terrible affair, and still felt weak. Tho whole thing had been too distressing to dwell upon, and 110 felt a repugnance to talking about it to anyone.

Questioned as to what took placo. immediately after tho boat capsized, Mr. Potter said that Mrs. Ham was clasping her baby in her arms in tho watfr, and he had almost succeeded in getting her into a position on top of tho upturned boat, but could not quite do so owing to the weight of her wet clothes and boots, and tho smallness of tho boat. After that she slipped back into tho water, and 110 did not seo her again. At the samo timo iiis foot was caught in the kelp, and 110 had a rather anxious timo getting' rid of it. When ho got clear of the kelp he made a strong attempt to swim asliore, but finding tho tido too strong for him to make any progress against it, he decided to rest himself by floating on his back, and it was whilst lie was floating in a rather exhausted condition that ho saw tho Pateena approaching. At the sight of this unexpected chance of rescue, he plucked up courage, and as the boat drew nearer he splashed about and shouted as loud as he. could to attract the attention of those 011' board, anil was overjoyed to see a boat being lowered. "Strange to say," said Mr. Potter, "I never thought of drowning tho w'holo time I was in tho water!" N THE PATEENA'S RESCUE. , Tlio Pateena, whoso boat rescued Mr. Potter, was in port yesterday morning. Captain Cameron told a Dominion reporter that when about a quarter of a mile off tho Pinnacle Rocks ho caught sight of an upturned boat, and as ho got the boat into the focus of his glasses, ho saw a man floundering about in the water. His first thought was.that it was a bather, as his white shirt looked like bare skin in tho sunlight, though ho could not help thinking how foolish he was to be out so far—about half-way between tho Pinnaclo Rocks and the black buoy. Then, putting two and two together, ho judged that an accident must have occurred, and then heard tho man in the water shouting for help. The vessel was at once put about, and a boat was lowered and dispatched in charge of tho sccond officer (Mr. Ell) tivo minutes from tho time lie hail observed tho man in tho water. The boat's crew acted smartly, picking tho man up in a very exhausted condition two minutes after leaving the ship at a point half-way between tho Pinnacles and buoy. Tho rescued man was asked if thero wero any others in tho boat, and on being told that three others had been drowned half an hour bsfore, n short search was made among tho rocks without success. In the meantime the Pateena's whistle bad been blown to attract another, boat from the Seatoun beach, and as soon as it came otf tlio rescued man was transferred to it, and. the Pateena proceeded on her voyage. From tho log the following data was extracted:—l.3o p.m., stand-by to the engine-room; 1.30 p.m., way oft ship, and boat lowcrc-d; 1.38 p.m., boat picked up the man; 1.50 p.m., boat back at ship's side, after search rocks and transferrins man to shoro boat; 1.51 p.m., full-speed ahead... The above times indicate that excellent work was done by the captain, officers, and crcw of the Pateena.

MR. POTTER'S THANKS. Mr. Potter has forwarded tho following letter to Captain Cameron, of the Patocna:— "Dear sir,—lt would bo useless for me to attempt to find words that would adequately express my gratitude to you and those who acted under your commands in rescuing mo from drowning on Friday afternoon last. There is no greater service that ono man can render than to save the lifo of a fellow human being, and I feel' and know now that I must surelv liavo succumbed had your vessel not put in such a tiinely appearance, and you yourself kept such a bright look-out. For such help as you rendered me, I must ever be your debtor. Believe mo, I thank vou antl your officers and crew deeply and sincerely for Friday afternoon's work. Later on I hope to meet and thank you and tho others in person.—Tours most sincerely, W. R. Potior."