THREE MEN IN PERIL

Hokitika Guardian, 21 September 1929, Page 5

THREE MEN IN PERIL

BLOWN TO SEA

STRENUOUS FIGHT FOR LIFE,

AUCKLAND, September 10..; A thrilling story of the fight for life made by three men drifting in a halfswamped boat, at the mercy of heavy seas, suffering from thirst and hunger, expecting every moment to be their last and fearing, the ferocious i mako shark; was told by Mr H. E. Hamlin native schoolmaster at Mataura Bay, a pa situated about eight miles along the coast from Waihi. His companions were.lsaac Hauraki, secretary of the school, committee and a son of tlje chief of the settlement, and Rutana. Tawha. . • .. ' • 1 ) ■ .They-went to Bovventown for, the purpose of taking two boats of sixteen feet and fourteen (feet which they bad purchased along the coast to Mataura. On arrival at Bowontown they found a heavy sea on the bar and the surf breaking miles out.i After making -an attempt to get the boats through the surf they found a passage between the main channel and the rocks, and outside they hoisted sail, the big'boat towing the smaller one., A strong westerly gale was blowing and they tried unsuccessfully to-make their way along the Mast, but gradually drifted- further out. About 5.30 p.m. they found themselves five miles off - Waihi beach with seas coming broadside on. They then realised they had no chance of making land. At 8.30 they could baiely°sce the coastline and a sea of white waves was breaking' all over them. They lowered the sail and der cided to try the oars, hut found the task of rowing impossible, for they lost seaway at every stroke. The coastline disappeared at 9 o’clock and there was no sign of Mayor Island, which is sixteen miles from the mainland. Thej drifted rapidly and gave themselves up for lost. . ' - ,It was at this moment, said ,Mr Hamlin, that he thought of the mako sharks which infest , the waters. thereabouts. The only thing to do' was to keep the boats before the wind. Towards madnight they caught sight of Mayor Island. The seas were now coming aboard and the men were forced to bad. They realised that their only hope was to make a landing in .the south-east bay of the island. Approaching the island at 4.30 a.m. on Monday morning they considered the advisability of running the boats on the rocks and taking a chance, but they decided to steer for the .hay. They landed without mishap as day was breaking. ‘ ' / The pangs of hunger and thirst then assailed them. They found water but could obtain no food, and the huts pn the island were 1 all padlocked. climbed up a hill to make a signal and saw plenty of wild pigs. Some tipm later they sighted a sail, which proved to be that of a fishing launch copiing to shelter at Mayor Island. It supplied them with. food. After spending a cold and sleepless night on the island the men left in the launch at seven o’clock on Tuesday, and arrived at Mataura beach at 12.30, after everybody had abandoned all hope. __ . .MM* ' • / ?