A PERILOUS EXPERIMENT.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 35, 9 January 1884, Page 3

A PERILOUS EXPERIMENT.

Captain Drevab made another attempt a few days ago to cross the Channel in the paddle tub-raft exhibited by him at the Fisheries Exhibition. The boat is about 6ft. long, 4ft. across the paddles, and 18in. deep, having a flat bottom. The occupant works the wheels with two cranks, his paddles being constructed of two gallon oil-cans, which are watertight, with pieces of cigar-cases for floats. Captain Drevar was provided with a small quantity of provisions, a lantern, and a small bucket, with which to bale out water from his craft. He started from the west of the Admiralty Pier at noon. The wind was northerly, and the water fairly calm in shore, but lumpy outside. The craft drifted eastwards towards the Goodwin Sands, and was soon lost to sight—not, however, before it was apparent that Captain Drevar had lost all control of his fantastic craft, over which the sea was continually breaking. Grave apprehensions of his safety were therefore felt, but a telegram from Dover the next morning stated that the adventurer was picked up on the Goodwin Sands by a fishing-boat. He was much exhausted, his boat having been capsized, and he had been clinging to it for some time. Captain Drevar gives the following account of his attempt to cross the Channel: —“ At 12.30 I left Dover with a strong north wind and high sea. I started from the west side of the Admiralty Pier, and passed clear of the pier in a few moments. On getting into the tide I drifted away eastward, but my boat did not ehip the least drop oi water. When about

meh miles out from land, I found that she was leaking seriously, and I had to leave off paddling and attempt to bsle, which kept one constantly at work. Ail this time I was going away to the eastward at about four miles an hour. Finding I could not paddle and bale at the same time, J took about a yard of canvas I had in my boat, and hung it up on the two levers I paddle with as a sail. The little craft then moved along under sail at a nice pace, and I continued baling her out until, to my alarm, I found I was among the gull breakers, about nine miles from Dover. The boat did not ship any water, but I noticed she was down in the*water considerably at the bow. On examination I found the fore part of the boat was full of water. The sea was getting more boisterous than ever, and the boat’s nose being under water, she finally shipped seafc right over her and myself. Although I tried to get the water out of her, she became quite full, even to the top of the box.”