TRAWLER’S FATE.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 February 1926, Page 2

TRAWLER’S FATE.

— SEARCH FRUITLESS. [Australian A* X.Z. Cable Association.] LONDON, Feb. 21. Tho Frci? State aeroplane search proved fruitless. ONLY ONITSURVIVOR. . LONDON, Feb. 22. During many hours ot perilous flying in the troth of a. forty-mile gale, the Irish airmen wore searching the islands along the Galway coast for tho missing trawlers. They abandoned the task after a parcel of food anil first aid fittings were dropped on High Island, hut there were no signs of lifo observed.

SURVIVOR’S GREAT TRIALS. LONDON. Feb. 22. .lames Batchelor, who is the mate of another of the Swansea, trawlers, hurriedly travelled to Galway, expecting lo identify his brother Henry’s body. He had actually entered tin? mortuary, when the news was received that his \ brother was safe, though lie wa.s tho onlv survivor.

Henry Batchelor says that lie used a shovel alternatively as a puddle and as a scull to steer the boat. The thirst after immersion was terrible. The only food in the boat was two raw potatoes, which were soaked in salt water, but he refrained from eating them as he felt sure he would lose his reason.

FOR THE LIKE OF A DOG. LONDON. Fob. 21. A story of the heroic -efforts ftT save the life of a pot dog figures in tho account of the experience, given by tho boat swain. Henry Batcitelor, the solo survivor of the Cardigan Castle, in dcs: ribing the hojiele.ssne.ss of the crew when the trail ler was wrecked. Tho only lifeboat broke the jiainter and drifted away in the intense darkness. Batchelor dived anil struck out in the direction of the drifting boat. He sank twice in trying to take oil' his sen bools. I'll imal-ely, he rose and felt a soft fluffy object, which was appaiL'iitly th'i* oaptaiin’s pum, whiclf, had been washed overboard. Batcliolor seized the dog in .his teeth aiwf* i.bera ft !’]■ struggled desperately A-rc-a'li Hie boat, drifting further from the trawler. Finally he caught it up, wriggled ahourd, baled out tlio water, through which cue boat wa.s sinking, and tucked toe dog under his jersey to keep it warm as it was raining hard and blowing heavily. Big seas occasionally mails the dog cry. The Cardigan Castle meantime Tiiul di.sajtpeareil.

Batchelor was oil the point of collapse from cola, .hunger and thirst when he was picked tip, and it was thought he was about to die.