A PERILOUS EXPERIMENT.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3877, 20 December 1883, Page 4

A PERILOUS EXPERIMENT.

Captain Drevar made another attempt recently to cross the Channel in the paddle tub-raft exhibited by him at tho Fisheries Exhibition. Tho boat is about 16ft long, 4ft across the paddles, and lSin deep, having a flat bottom. The occupant ivorks the wheels Avith two cranks, his paddles being constructed of two gallon oil cans, which are . Avatertight, Avith pieces of cigar cases for floats, Captain Drovar avus provided Avith a small quantity of provisions, a lantorn, and a small bucket with Avhich to bail out Avater from his craft. Ho started from the ivest of tho Admiralty Pier at noon.. Tho Avind Avas northerly, and the Avater fairly calm in shore, but lumpy outside. Tho craft drifted eastwards towards tho Goodivin Sands, and ivas soon lost to sight, not, hoAvever, before it Avas apparent that Captain Drovar had lost all control of his fantastic craft, over Avhich the sea ivas continually breaking-. Grave apprehensions for his safety Averc therefore felt, but a telegram from Dover the next morning stated that the adventurer ivas picked up on the Goodivin Sands by a fishing boat. He Avas much exhausted, his boat having been capsized, and he had been clinging to it for some time. Captain Drevar gi\'es the folloAving account of his attempt to cross the Channel:—At 12.30 I left Dover with a strong north ivind and high sea. I started from tho west sido of tho Admiralty Pier, and passed clear of tho pier iv a few moments. On getting into the title I drifted away eastAvard, but my boat did not ship tho least drop of water. AVhen about seven miles out from shore, I found that sho ivas leaking seriously, and I hart to leave off paddling and attempt to bale, Avhich kept one constantly at work. All this timo I was going aiyay to tho eastward at about four miles an hour. Finding that I could not paddle and bale at the same time, I took about a yard of canvas I had in my boat and hung it up on tho two levers I paddle ivith as a sail.- Tho littlo craft then moved along at a nice pace, nnd I continued bailing her out until, to my alarm, I found I was among tho gull breakers about nine milesfrom Dover. Tho boat did not ship any water, but I noticed she ivas down in the water considerably at the bow. On examination I found tho fore part of the boat Avas full of water. The sea ivas getting more boisterous than oi'or, and tho boat's noso being under Avater she finally shipped seas right over her and myself. Although I tried to got tho ivatcr out of her she bocauio quito full oven to tho top of the box.