SENSATIONAL CANOE JOURNEY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 847, 2 June 1910, Page 3

SENSATIONAL CANOE JOURNEY.

Two well-known Waitotara men in the persons of Messrs G. Currie and G. McGregor, had a dangerous and thrilling experience on Thursday night (says the Waverley correspondent of the Patea Press). Some time ago Mr McGregor sent his canoe to a Mr Stewart, engineer, at Wanganui, for some repairs to the engine. On Thursday Messrs Currie and McGregor went to Wanganui for the purpose of coming back in the canoe with the engineer. Instead of commencing as arranged at 2.30 p.m. from Wanganui, they were delayed until 4.30. A good passage was experienced, though the sea was gradually roughening. It was 9 o’clock and pitch dark when the party reached the Waitotara heads. Here it was considered too dark and dangerous to risk finding the river’s mouth, so the canoe’s head was turned to Wanganui again. The Wanganui bar was reached at about 11,30 p.m., but just as the bar was about safely negotiated the engine broke down. The canoe rapidly drifted out to sea, driven by tide and wind. Anxious work at the engine followed, for the land was rapidly disappearing. Brains and work went for nothing. Farther and farther the little canoe drifted from safety. Big seas continually washed over them, choking up the exhaust pipe and destroying the benzine. All seemed hopeless and the occupants of the boat shook hands as a last farewell to one another. At the height of despair the engine commenced to work again and another attempt was made to reach one of the Home boats. Within two hundred yards of the ocean liner the engine again stopped, and has not again been got to work. By good steering and hard work the Home boat was made, the occupants ot the canoe being taken aboard in an exhausted condition. Shortly afterwards one of the Castlecliff lighters, towing the canoe, carried them to Wanganui at 2.30 on Friday morning.