EXCITING BOATING EXPERIENCE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9111, 10 June 1908, Page 6

EXCITING BOATING EXPERIENCE.

BY TEI/i33fiAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION. AUCKLAND, June 9. An exciting, boating experience befell Captain W. Ross, of the schooner Ysabed, which returned to Auckland on Saturday last after an Island cruise. Captain Ross, two native women passengers, and four members 7 of the crew of the vessel, put off from the shore in the ship's large boat. Being fully loaded with copra, the boat was pretty deep in the water, and one of the women, standing up to wave an adieu to friends on shore, the boat capsized, throwing the occupants into the water. The accident was seen from the Ysabel, which was anchored about a mile distant, but there was not a small boat left on the vessel, so that the party in the water, who were clinging to the upturned boat, were left practically to , their own resources. Captain Koss succeeded in divesting himself of his boots, and, with one of the natives belonging to the crew, struck out for the schooner. The water was not rough, but there was a strong current, and they made little headway. Eventually a coil of manila rope was dropped over from the schooner, and allowed to drift j down on the current. It reached them, and by this means they were hauled on board the schooner. One of the natives subsequently carried this rope to the party remaining on the boat, and both the boat and i occupants, who had been in the water j for two hours, were rescued, but the cargo of cop'-a was lost. The party was much exhausted when rescued, I but soon revived.