An Exciting Experience.

Manawatu Herald, 15 March 1904, Page 2

An Exciting Experience.

TWO HOURS IN THE WATER,

A small paddle steamer, the Clematis, owned by a Paeroa firm, was lost a few days ago off the Sandspit lighthouse, and her crow, a Dutch skipper, a Dutch engineer, and an Auckland sailor, had a very exciting experience. According to the Auckland Herald, the boat was originally built - for towing. purposes on the river Thames, and, being very shallow, is stated by those who knew her to have been unfit to make the voyage between Auckland and the Thames in anything but moat favourable conditions. Everything went well, however, till five o’clock on the morning after her departure from Auckland, when' the small craft shipped a heavy,.sea and capsized. The fore-part dived into the sea, and only the stern remained above water. The engineer and sailor, who either were not swimmers or incapable of swimming the mile length which separated them from the shore, clung to the stern while the skipper swam gallantly out to Ponui Island, which he reached after, two hours’ battling against a strong sea and tide. Re was much exhausted on lauding, but he nevertbetheless made his way as quickly as possible to the homestead on the island. A yacht was obtained, and the two men who had remained clinging to the almost submerged Clematis were rescued.