LAUNCH TRAGEDY

Hokitika Guardian, 1 October 1930, Page 5

LAUNCH TRAGEDY

FURTHER PA RTICULARS.

(By Telegraph—Presa Aseooiation).

WELLINGTON, Oct. 1

Arthur Hodgman, aged 18, of Island Bay, iii an interview said the Arahura was at one rime only thirty or forty yards away, but the close proximity of the shore prevented those on board from reaching the fishermen. The launch Crescent was a converted .whale chaser, about 42 feet long, with 45 b.p. engine. After the engine failed, all efforts to start it failed owing to the battery having run down. The anchor was down only a short time when the rope parted and allowed the boat to drift helplessly to sea. An anchor was rigged and thrown overhoard but it failed to check the boat’s leeway. At darlt, flares were lighted to attract attention ashore. They managed to get a grappling between Sinclair Head and the Runaround, and this held for a while. The Arahura saw the flares and turned in, but by that time the launch was too close in-shore for the steamer to reach her. The sear-5 were dashing over the launch. AY hen lie lighted the flares he could see the Arahura’s stern quite plainly, but the lee shore gave the Arahura no hope l:>f bridging the gap-. Heherly then out the line to see if the ebb tide i earty the launch sff'shore, but ifc drifted in still , further,.*. 1 lien , a.. huge sea struck 11 broadside, and it capsized, 1 ‘AVe were -all; thrown ' into • the sea, \ Hebevly was trying’To keßp Hunter Rp an be could not swim,--AAR had buoys off the lines. The last I saw of .Heberly and Hunter ;thi\y were , struggling together in the water. I saw "no sign of Perano. That was ,aho'ut‘ieleven.” Hodgman was washed ashore and rescued after clinging to a rock for about 'ten minutes. Hodgman hails from Kaikoura.