THREE LIVES LOST

Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4512, 2 October 1930, Page 2

THREE LIVES LOST

FISHING LAUNCH DRIVEN

ASHORE

SURVIVOR’S STORY.

A tragic mishap occurred during the southerly gale on Tuesday, when a fishing launch was driven ashore in an inlet near Ohiro Bay and three men lost their lives.. They were Joe Heberley (skipper), Jimmy Pern no and Magnus Hunter. One man, named Ilodgman, was rescued. The launch, which was one of a fleet, left Island Bay at (i a.m. on Tuesday to fisji in Cook Strait. The wind was strong, and the engine evidently broke down between 2 and 3 p.m. When things were growing worse, Heberley used a sea anchor in an attempt to prevent disaster, but the drift continued. Early in the evening rockets began 'to be sent up regularly. The Nelson ferry steamer Arahura, which had left Wellington at 7.30 p.m. was signalled from Island Bay by those who had seen the launch in difficulties. 'The Arahura abandoned her course, and turned in towards the small vessel: she came

in close, and then, apparently circled and went out again to signal. This done, she returned once more to the inlet.

A number of fishermen from Is

laud Bay came around on a lorry soon after 9.30 p.m. to the point opposite the launch. They state that it must have capsized before ir struck the rocks. Lifebuoys were in the launch, hut these proved apparently of little use. Three fishermen roped together went down to the water’s edge to attempt a rescue. They had a terribly difficult task, but managed to.find the survivor, who was brought in to a house nearby in an exhausted condition.

All the crew on the doomed launch, were single men, hoarding at Island Bay, and Heberley and Perano belong to Pic'ton. The man who was saved came from Kaikoura.

The survivor of the launch tragedy was Arthur Hodgson, aged 18, of Island Bay. Tn an inter-

view, he said that the Arahura was at one time only thirty or forty yards away, hat the close proximity of the shore prevented those on hoard from reaching the fish-

ermen. The launch, which was named the 'Orescent, was a converted whale-chaser, about 42 feet long, with a 45 h.p. engine. After the engine failed, all efforts to start, it failed, owing to the battery having run down. The an-

i hor was down only a short time, when the rope parted and allowed j lie boat to drift helplessly. A sea anchor was rigged and thrown overboard, hut if failed to check the boat’s leeway. At dark flares were lighted to attract, the attention of those ashore. The Arahura saw the. Hares and turned in, but by that

time the launch was too close in-

shore for the steamer ‘to reach her. Seas were dashing over the launch, When Hodgman lighted a flare he could see the Arahura’s stern quite plainly,, hut tlie lee-shore gave the Arahura no hope of bridging the gap.

'Heberley then cut the line, to see if the ebb tide would carry the launch off-shore, but it drifted in still further. Then a huge sea struck it broadside on, and if capsized.

“We were all throAvn into the son,” said Hodgniain “Heberley was trying to keep Hunter up; he could not swim. PTo had the buoys off the lines. The last 1 saw of Heberlev and Hunter, they Avere struggling together in the water. I scav no sign of Pern no. That Avas about eleven o’clock.” Hodgman was washed ashore, and Avas rescued after he had been clinging to a. rock for about ten minutes.