CASTAWAYS RESCUED.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 May 1916, Page 2

CASTAWAYS RESCUED.

• STRANDED ON AN ISLAND. LITTLE FOOD AND NO WATER. Whangarei, Mav 16. • The launch Lady Eva, Captain' W. R. Patterson, and his crew, who succeeded in rescuing the four men. Davis, sen., Davis, Jnn., Graham, and Barron, of Whananaki, who had been stranded on the Poor Knight since Tuesday, returned to Whangarei to-day. Only a stout boat could have effected the rescue. Once outside Whangarei Heads on Sunday morning the Lady Eva had to put back on account of stormy weather. On a second attempt they made the Poor Knights, but the greatest difficulty was experienced in getting the castaways off the rocks, and the success achieved reflected the grestest credit, on all concerned.

The stranded party had erected a distress signal with a staysail and two lashed sculls. The yacht Emerald, in which the party put out from Whananaki, held on to her anchors till Friday night, when she was swept away. Previous to this, when trying to land in a dinghy, Graham was washed off the rocks and was nearly drowned. On Saturday a large steamer, seemed to observe the distress signal, but the hopes of the party sank when she passed without stopping. Their only shelter was the mainsail off their yacht, and the men were practically lying in water on the first two nights. A small quantity of hard bread was doled out each morning, supplemented by fish caught, and this was their only sustenance. Owing to salt spray breaking over the Poor Knights drinking water was rendered very brackish. On Sunday morning the last'morsel of bread was reserved for dinner. Barron had aiven up all hope, and refused to rise. The arrival of the Lady Eva was hailed with delight. The men were feeling the effects of hunger and exposure. Once they were rescued their immediate needs were attended to. Owing to the rough sea the. Lady Eva could not make Whananaki, and landed the men at Tutnkaka.