TWO MEN’S ORDEAL

Hokitika Guardian, 22 December 1933, Page 8

TWO MEN’S ORDEAL

STRANDED ON AN ISLAND

RESCUE IN HEAVY SEAS

MELBOURNE, Dec 16

Distress signals flown from the lonely Cliffy Island lighthouse in Bass Strait one niglit enabled Cap. F. Ffiller, master of the steamer Craigend, to rescue two lighthouse-keepers whose fishing boat had been wrecked on a nearby island. Officers of the Craigend, which arrived at Melbourne subsequently, gave a graphic description of the thrilling rescue which was carried out at night in rough, breaking seas. On her voyage from Brisbane to Melbourne the Craigend was steaming through the Biass Strait on Sunday ahd about 5 p.m. ,a distress signal - was seen flying from the lighthouse on the bleak, wind-swept Cliffy Island. By means of semaphore signalling officers of, the Craigend were informed from the lighthouse that two of the keepers were stranded on Notch Island, a small rocky eminence about three miles north-west of Cliffy Island. .

“We steamed for Notch Island,” | said Captain .Fuller, “and then sent a boat away with five seamen, in charge j of the chief officer, Mr Wilkinson, and j the second mate, Mr Campbell. A | heavy sea breaking on the steep rocky* .shore at Notch Island prevented the boat’s crew from - landing. It was, j therefore, necessary to throw a line to the stranded men, and haul them j through the breakers to the boat. .

.' “The boat was then taken in tow by the Craigend and we proceeded to Cliffy Island,”'continued Captain Fill-1 Iciv “On the way the .men. told the, story of their adventure. They had left Cliffy Island on Sunday rooming in a, small boat to fish in Bass Straight, .but, unfortunately, their boat sprang a leak. In the heavy seas they baled desperately to keep afloat, but were at ra«t forced to abandon the boat. ’-“'With Cliffy IcJand several miles away the men began to swim for Notch Island, which was the nearest land. After a tremendous struggle against the heavy seas they .were finally washed ,iip on the rocky island at 2 p.m on Sunday. If we had riot passed when we did they would have been stranded on the island all night with no water or food.”

So rough'were the seas tliat when the Craigend reached Cliffy Island with the ‘ small • boat ih tow, it was found to be impossible to land the' men who had to be picked out of the boat by, the lighthouse crane.