The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1888-10-02
NEWS ARTICLES.
A GAPSlZE AND A SWIM FOR
LIFE.

Mr.. II. Il. Austin of Waihee, met
with an accident yesterday evening,
while out boat sailing, that but for
his presence of mind, might have
resulted fatally. Some time ago he
had boat built for pleasure sailing,
and since her arrival at Waihee has
enjoyed the pleasure of buffetting
the waves of that coral bound coast
and taking long sails seward with
out anything more serious happen
ing than being filled with water sew
eral times while coming in or going
out over the breakers, and as he
was an expert boatman and a good
sailor, no anxiety was felt for his
safety when it became dark last
night and the boat was lost sight of.
The precaution of setting lights at
the landing for him to steer by in
coming in over the breakers was
taken by his wife, and nothing more
was thought of the matter for some
time, when anxious thoughts began
to arise in the minds of those who
were awaiting his arrival, but when
the minutes dragged into hours and
brought with them no appearance
of the looked-for one, anxiety turn
ed into fear for his safety, and it
was thought advisable that a search
should be made for him. Conse-
quently two gentlemen, one of whom
is the writer, were making prepara-
tions for q search, when the object
of that search turned up alive and
as well as could be expected, after
having been in the water two hours.
1t seems that Mr.. Austin went out
in his boat as usual alone, but had
hardly got clear of the breakers
when he observed that the boat act
ed strangely and would not mind her
rudder; but thinking perhaps that
it was due to something on his part,
and could be overcome, kept on out
to sea. He got out some distance
when the wind freshened and he
was obliged to reef his sail, and
seeing that the wind was increasing
and it was getting dark, tried to
'ttack" and stand in for the shore;
then it was that he was fully con-
WINGED that there was something the
matter with the boat, for she would
not stay. He then tried to 'wear"
around and after considerable
trouble succeeded in doing so; but
had no sooner got around than a
severe squat struck her and capsiz-
ed her.
At this time he was between two
and three miles off shore, and as
the boat was rapidly sinking he was
obliged to work with alacrity in
order to save himself. Although
good swimmer he was so far from
shore and had SO many breakers to
go through, he thought he could not
make it; so he looked about him
for something with which to sustain
his weight while resting. He first
thought of the rudder, but that was
SO far under the water, it would
have been almost impossible to have
unshipped it. His next thought
was onc oalS, VI WHICH, GucIc WeIe
two in the boat when she capsized /;
they had been washed away by the
heavy sea, but by swimming around
little he managed to get both of
them, and lashed them together so
as to form sort of raft, with which
he succeeded CATER being banged
about in the breakers) in getting
ashore, but in an exhausted condi-
ton. After waiting on the beach a
short time, he made his way home
and thus relieved the anxiety of
those who were watching for him.
The boat drifted ashore this morn
ing and was picked up by Mr., Aus
tin and some natives.
Waihee, Sept. oath, 1888.