DRAMATIC LEAP

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 131, 3 May 1940, Page 8

DRAMATIC LEAP

FISHING EOAT SINKS. T COLLISION WITH LAUNCH. Per Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, May 2. Two Sumner fishermen barely saved their lives by a desperate leap when the 37-feet "fishing launch Wliiworri was sunk in a collision with the examination steamer John Anderson off Lyttelton Pleads early this morning. Manned by her owner, Mr E. W. Congreve, the Wliiworri left Sumner for the fishing grounds at 3.20 a.m. and was off Lyttelton Heads about 5 a.m. when a searchlight on shore flashed to the boat and she stopped. Dazzled by the light, the crew did not see the John Anderson until she loomed up out of the darkness right upon them and crashed into the launch, amidships. The badly holed Wliiworri began to sink rapidlv under the men's feet as they, though badly hampered by heavy clothing and oilskins, gathered themselves for the desperate leap which landed them aboard the John Anderson. The fishing boat went down as they left her. From the John Anderson the men were later transferred to another fishing boat which took them to Lyttelton. Neither was injured. Lieutenant-Commander R. Boswell, naval officer in charge at Lyttelton, referring to the mishap in which the launch’ Whhvorri was sunk in a collision with tho examination steamer, _ .id to-night that, according to his information, tho examination vessel in the course of carrying out special patrol work sighted a dim light, evidently coming from a vessel not carrying navigation lights. She closed to investigate and tho light disappeared. As she approached the position where the light had last been soon tho collision occurred in which the launch was sunk. The two men on board were able to reach the examination vessel before their boat sank without personal injury, and were returned to port shortly afterwards.