A FIGHT WITH THE WAVES.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2464, 10 February 1881, Page 4

A FIGHT WITH THE WAVES.

A correspondent of the “ Nelson Colonist ” gives some interesting particulars of the recovery of Mr Buckridge’s son, who drifted out to sea in a canoe, and in the attempt to rescue whom Mr Buckridge, his father, lost his life, as will be remembered. Three men, Messrs Thomas, Douglas, and C. Slade, jun., volunteered to go in search of the boy, though there was a strong gale blowing and the sea was very rough. They started at 1.30 p.m. in a whaleboat Mr Thomas took his bearings carefulty at starting from the direction in which the canoe had been seen drifting seaward. At a quarter to 4 they discovered the object of their search, having sailed straight to it. The canoe was some 14 or 16 miles from land, opposite Pepio’s Island. After using the utmost caution, the} r succeeded in getting the boat alongside the canoe, and threw a rope right over the boy, to which he clung most tenaciously. After hauling the boy into their boat, the weather was so tempestuous that they were obliged to let the canoe go adrift. The brave boy, although only some 12 years of age, while in the canoe had been trying to make himself some paddles out of a piece of wood, also to mend the rowlocks of the canoe. In doing this he had lost a costly pocketknife, and he expressed to his rescuers a fear that his father would be displeased thereat. Poor little fellow, he did not know then of his far more serious loss —that he was fatherless. Owing to the wind not only keeping up its fury, but increasing the force of its blasts, and changing to south-west, the boat was not got back to its starting point,the west entrance of the Moutere, till half-past 8 o’clock next morning (Thursday.) The men and boy were drenching wet and cold, and the former were thoroughly fatigued by their efforts to reach the shore. The thankfulness of the bereaved family on receiving back their lost darling can bo much better imagined than described. If ever three brave men deserved the decorations of the lloyal Humane Society, Messrs Thomas, Douglas, and Slade do.