BATTLE FOR LIFE

Shannon News, 8 October 1926, Page 3

BATTLE FOR LIFE

•* four men in breakers; , LAUNCH SMASHED ON BAR. SYDNEY, Sept. 23. Four men had a narroAV escape from death in the heavy seas on -the TAveed Heads bar on Saturday, wlion their launch, overturned by a Avave, was pounded to pieces in the seas. Albert Barker, owner of the launch, had taken John Francis, Alfred Phillips and Roy Elbourne with him to set lobster pots outside the bar. They were returning from that work when the rudder snapped, and, caught in the trough of a wave, the launch was overturned. Francis was underneath the craft, but was pulled out unhurt by Phillips. To the crowd which gathered at the Avaterside, it seemed that nothing could save the four men. Their boat Avas quickly smashed up by the seas pounding it on the bar, and they were floundering in the Avater. Baker and Francis grasped hold of a large piece of planking, and, astride this, made for the shore. Phillips and Elbourne, Avith the aid of smaller pieces, also sAvam for the shore. After a prolonged struggle, Phillips and Elbourne reached land, and Averse assisted from the Avater, but the others, Bakfer and Francis, were unable to make any headway. .

Their plight was. communicated to tlie pilot station, and signals were serft up for the pilot steamer Terranora. In the meantime, the officer in charge of the pilot station had launched the lifeboat, and requisitioned one of the river steamers to tow the boat to the bar.

The seas were so huge that the small river boat could not venture close to the bar, and the lifeboat, manned by four local residents, eventually reached to within a few yards of Baker and Francis. The men in the lifeboat made several attempts to get a line to Baker and Francis, but failed, and were forced to abandon their attempt to save tlie men. Eventually the pilot steamer, which had been tied Up some' miles up the river, came down and rescued the men after some hair-raising escapes from being turned over. All the rescued men were suffering from .shock and bruises, but the amazing feature of the whole incident was the fact that Baker, who is more than 7.0 year s of age, < showed the least signs of the trying experience. The boat, which was smashed beyond hope of repair, was worth £7OO.