NO WARNING HEARD

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 419, 31 December 1932, Page 5

NO WARNING HEARD

(Press Assr -

SURVIVORS' ACCOUNT OF TRAGIC MARINE DISASTER A CRY OF "LOOK-OUT"

— By Telegraph — Copyrlght)

Napier, Friday. Mr. Robert John Pratt stated that there were about 30 , men on the Doris. He was sitting in the stern of the launch, and heard. one of the watersiders call out, "Look out, here's tfie.Tu Atu!" .The next thing- he knew was that; he was in the water apd that the. Doris tipped over. He held on to the over turned launch until he was.rescued by the. tug Kuri. He did not see the Tu Atu prior to the collision, but he saw her masthead light afterwards. He heard no warning- signal from, the vessel. The launch Doris had her usual lights burning. "After we were thrown into the water," said Mr. J. Josephs, "I got about 50 yards away and swam back to the launch. When I got on top of it, it .turned over again. I managed to get my coat and one. boot off, after which I swam to the pier head, being tbe first ashore. I immediately informed the police. I might say I had a £.5 note in my trousers pocket and after I was out of the water it was the first thing I felt for." "Never Had a Chance" "We never had a chance," said Mr. S. Boyd, who was eventually picked up by the Kuri. "Six of us were sitting forward in the launch. Two of these men were lost, including Alex. Boyd, who xvas sitting next to me. We were sitting talking, never thinking there was any danger ahead. I never saw the Tu Atu until after we were struck and we never had time. to jump." Mr. A. Withington said the Tu Atu was right on top of them when he first saw her. "The Doris shot over to port and forward, screwing like a bfillet, and her capsize was aided by reason of the fact that many men in the stern rushed to the port side, their weight helping to throw her over," he said. "I was sitting on the port side and was flung five or ten yards. out into the water. The other men were flung one on. top of the other. "When the confusion calmed down a little, many made for the Doris and clung to her hull. Some were. injured. 1 made for the shore, and after swimming about 150 yards reached the light at the end of the eastern pier." . Mr. W. Wilmot said he was dragged under the water when the launch struck. When he came to the surface he noticed several men making frantic efforts to keep afloat by clutching at the overturned launch. The weight of the men clambering into her caused her to sink. Two men caught hold of Mr. Wilmot and dragged him down again, but he managed to fight his way clear and started to struggle toward the shore, which he gained after a long, trying battle. Ready to Give Up Mr. R. Jones said he was thrown clear when the collision occurred. "I started to tread water for a while," he said, "but decided to have a go at getting- to the shore.. I seemed to be swimming for hours, and was just about ready to give up when I saw land close by. That gave me hope. I managed to reach the rocks, and fell flat out. If there had been another 10 yards to go I couldn't have done it." Just after he reached land, Mr. Jones turned and noticed another man, who had been swimming some distance behind him, throw up his hands and disappear when within 20 yards of the shore. Mr. Jones was too exhausted to go to his assistance.