SIX DROWNED AT SYDNEY

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 44, 8 March 1937, Page 5

SIX DROWNED AT SYDNEY

— PresB Aasn.

Launch Thrown on Rocks in Heavy Sea ERAVE RESCUE EFFORTS

(By Toleeraph

— Copyricht.)

(Reeeived c, 8.45 a.m.) SYDNEY, March 7. Six men were drowned and three others saved only after most desperate eiforts by rescuers when the 32-foot launch Voyager was washed ashore at the foot of the cliffs between the North Head and Blue Fish Point. In the afternoon the Voyager had taken a party to a fishing ground 20 miles north of Sydney but a bigh wind and xising sea forced them to turn back towards the harbour. When nearing Sydney Heads the engine failed and the launch was soon at the mercy of the waves. Oi the three men saved two were thrown on to the rocks, by the sea and subsequently had to be brought 400 feet up the sheer clifE face. The third clung to a piece of planking for neariy four hours until picked, up by lifesavers. In spite of the tremendous seas a boat was lowered from the pilot steamer Captain Cook and a cnember of the crew risked his life in swimming with a rope to the Voyager. One of the xescue party in trying to reach the two men who were thrown on the rocks was trapped for several hours by the rising tide and the force of the seas. The Voyager 's last anchor had given way when the seaman from the Captain Cook got a Iine aboard. He then returned to the pilot steamer but immediately the strain was put on the line it parted. Attempts to get another line aboaro by means of rockets failed. One man from the launch tried to swim ashore with a line but he was unable to climb the ledge of rocks and he disappeared. • Apparently after the launch struek the rocks all but three men were drowned at once. It is believed some were trapped in the cabin as the launch capsized.