THE GLENLUT'S EXPERIENCES

Feilding Star, Volume I, Issue 281, 1 June 1907, Page 3

THE GLENLUT'S EXPERIENCES

SOME FURTHER PARTICULARS. • — — GRAPHIC NARRATIVE OF THE VOYAGE. [PJUt NtESS ASSOCIATION.] Dunedin, May 31. Further particulars regarding the experiences of the distressed ship Glenlui, wheat-laden, from Adelaide to Conception Bay, which was towed into port to-day, show that the Becond mate was twice washed out of his bunk. As it happened to be a top one this gives some idea of the volume of water that continually broke into - the cabins. The steward was caught near a door, borne through the saloon and hurled against a bicycle hanging in the extreme stern. Everything in the mess-room was broken to pieces, and the after-saloon and captain's quarters were swamped to the ceiling. The doors of the storerooms were forced inwards and tons of water poured down into the lazarette and thence found its way into the hold among the cargo of wheat. The after part of the vessel suffered most severely, but the forecastle and forward deckhouses stood the strain better than might have been expectTHE COOK'S TRIALS. Th cook did his umost in face of great difficulties to provide hot tea and food for the half-frozen crew, but with his cooking utensils he was washed out of, the galley. The galley funnel was torn off with all the other top hamper stowed on top of the deckhouses, but directly the weather moderated the indefatigable cook shored up his fallen chimney and got his fire going again. A TERRIBLE NIGHT. Nearly everybody on board, it appears, gave up the ship for lost, but under orders of the captain and second mate, boat-swain and crew worked with a will, hoping against hope. A spar was fitted to the rudder head after ihe wheel had been carried away on Sunday night, and the helm lashed hard alee. The lower topsails having been blown from the bolt ropes, the ship lay-to under foretopmast staysail and a tarpaulin spread in the mizzen rigging. At one time she seemed to |>c gradually settling down. It was impossible to remain on the deck, and through the night the officers and crew huddled under shelter of a tarpaulin on the poop while the .apparently sinking ship shuddered through the dark. THE MATE CARRIED OVERBOARD About daybreak the foretopmast staysail sheet parted and the sail tugged and strained at the stays, threatening to bring down the foremast. The mate (Mr Evan Jones) and boatswain went forward and, clambering aloft, succeeded in fnrl- * ing the sail. They had nearly regained the comparative safety of the poop when the vessel took a huge sea over the starboard Quarter, which carried the niate over the side, clothed in his heavy sea-boots and oilskins. Lines were thrown to him, but they fell short. His face was visible under his sou-wester ' for a little while, gazing with a look of pathetic despair at the ship, and then he sank. Nothing could possibly have been done to save him. The boatswain was also caught by the same sea. Which, fortunately for him, washed him under a skid, whence he was ex* tricated later half drowned and covered with bruises. He was then caught by another sea, but clutched a lifeline. He says he thought his arms were being torn out. The mate, Mr Jones, was twenty-nine years of age. His address was 23, Wright street, Carnarvon, North Wales. He was well known in New Zealand and Australia^ ports. He joined the Glenlui at Adelaide from the ship Hazel Craig. > He is believed to have been unmarried. THE CAPTAIN'S STORY. Captain R. C. Scott, the master of the Glenlui, has had thirty-eight years' service in sailing ships. He hails from Liverpool. When interviewed to-day he showed unmistakable signs of the ordeal through which he had just passed. "I suppose you haven't been to sleep for three days or nights P" asked a sympathetic bystander. "No/ he replied, "not for a week." The storm which raged on Monday and Tuesday was one of the worst he had ever experienced. He believed that it would do impossible, to bring the ship to wind, and that the only chance lay in running before the gale. At one time the vessel was woing fourteen knots an hour under lower topsails. Both fresh water tanks were fall of salt water, and the starboard tank was stove in. During pumping, one of the pumps got out of gear, but the crew redoubled their worts on the remaining. Captain Scott says he cannot explain how the time passed— day and night were merely a succession of calamities. Asked if his recent experiences had not made him tired of the sea, he replied, "So tired that if there was a bridge from here to Liverpool I'd walk home." A whole suit of sails, except royals, was blown to ribbon*. The cargo will probably be discharged, and the vessel docked.