MOTOR CAR SINKS IN DEEP WATER

Shannon News, 8 September 1922, Page 2

MOTOR CAR SINKS IN DEEP WATER

SEVEN MEN’S FIGHT FOR LIFE.

A remarkable accident, in which seven men barely escaped with their lives, occurred on Sunday, August 5, at the Nausori crossing of the iiewa River (says the Suva correspondent of the New Zealand Herald). Mr C. H. Honson .managing director of . Jang fling Loong ConTpaiiy, tiie largest Chinese merchants in Fiji, with five of his employees, arrived at the pontoon from Suva in a motor-car driven by an Indian. Another car was on the pontoon ahead of them. When the pontoon reached the oilier side the first car got oft, and the Indian driver started iiis car to follow. The -man had left his gear in reverse, and without warning the car shot over the back, into 201 tof water. The gate of the pontoon (which should have been shut) was open. Owing to wet weather the liood was up and the curtains fastened down. The struggle below was a fierce one for very life. The five employees and the Indian could swim. Frantically they tore the curtains open, even breaking part of the hood, in the mad struggle to escape. Mr Honson, who could not swim, had a wonderful escape. Tie said lie groped about till he found a hole, made by liis fellows, and pulled himself through. As he did so his hand came in contact with a small wooden lid from the seat of tile mo-tor-car, and this giving the necessary buoyancy, he gradually rose -to the surlaoe. He was sinking again,-when he was.-seized' by a native wlio had dived to liis assistance, and was brought ashore and very soon recovered sufficiently to continue liis journey. The car was brought ashore by some 20 natives, who are expert divers. Mr Honson quite seriously said he had been under water for 20 minutes