THE PURSER'S ACCOUNT

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIII, Issue 270, 13 November 1902, Page 5

THE PURSER'S ACCOUNT

AN INTERESTING NARRATIVE

Mr. Fred Chambers, the purser on the Elingamite, gave a detailed account of the disaster to a "Star" representative last evening, and in reply to a series of questions he unfolded a very interesting account of the disaster. Of his own share in the proceedings—a by no means inconsiderable one, as other narratives and portions of his own will show—Mr Chambers was very unwilling to speak, but bis pluck and coolness right through are shown by the fact that, in addition to seeing to the departure of three boats, he saved all the ship's papers. To do this, as anyone familiar with the Elingamite will know 7, Mr. Chambers had to descend a ladder to the aft well deck, and thence rush along an alley way about 100 feet long past the engine-room to his own cabin, which lay right amidships. In doing this he risked his life every moment he was in the alleyway or cabin, for at any moment the ship might have sunk, and, in fact, when he reached the deck again the water was shooting up throiigh the hatches. Mr. Chambers looked haggard and worn as the result of his experiences and anxieties, and it was easy to see that he was deeply affected by the loss of the ship in wdiich he had been employed for 2h years, and which he had come to look on as a second home. Placed in narrative from Mr. Chambers' answers to questions provide the following story: "I was standing on the port side of the deck, aft, when the vessel struck. I first felt a slight bump, followed bj r a heavy crash, the bump being caused by the vessel, w-hen going dead slow, striking a rock with her keel, and the crash being the result of the vessel being lifted up by a wave, and landing on a rock. WHERE THE VESSEL STRUCK. "Just before the vessel struck I heard- the telegraph bell ring, and, looking round, I saw the land looming up through the fog. The women and children were then rushing across the deck, and my attention was attracted from the rock to them, so that I was not looking ahead when we struck. Of course everybody immediately realised what had happened, but there was no confusion, and the women and children behaved wonderfully well. We were on one of the smaller rocks of the Kings group, ancl a huge hole must have been torn in the vessel's bottom. In my opinion, everything was over fifteen or twenty minutes after we struck. I heard the captain say that everything was all right, and there was plenty of time, but any other or*

ders lie may have given I did not" hear, as I was aft at the time. LOWERING THE BOATS. "I immediately proceded to my station at the No. 1 starboard, and assisted to launch the boat. She was safety got out, and filled with women and children, together, of course, with sufficient men to work her. I did not go in that boat myself, but proceeded to the No. 2 boat, meanwhile informing the chief steward that he was wanted by the captain* The No. 2 boat was got into the water, and was filled with women and children, and when this had been done I went along to the workingboat, a small dingey, and, after assisting with the tackle, jumped into her as she was being lowered into the water, the carpenter and tw r o oi* three passengers being in her already. There was ample time for everyone to get into the boats had all. been prepared to take the risks involved. Everyone aboard had a lifebelt. PICKING UP PASSENGERS. "When we reached the water we picked up those of the passengers who had jumped overboard, including a lady passenger, Miss Greenwood. We picked up about four passengers, and then had eleven all told in the little boat. We saw another man hanging" on to an oar, and half pulled him into the boat. We then found that he was dead, and, when thoroughly satisfied on. that point, we had to let him go again. "We then pulled round, and quicklylost sight of the Elingamite in the fog-. When I last saw her she was pretty well under water, and had a heavy starboard listSoon after losing sight of the oteamer we heard a whistle, which I recognised as the captain's, and pulling - in the direction whence it came we saw the captain, chief officer, second officer, second engineer, third' engineer, the chief steward and two children clinging- to some wreckage. We took off the third engineer first, as he was nearest"to us. Before we could g-et off any of the others a large boat came up and picked'therm all up, the dingey in which I was pulling away in order to save being, stove-in by the larger boat. Wa could take no more aboard, our boat being quite full. All the time we had to bale with caps to keep the dingey; afloat. THE SEARCfi. FOR A LANDING. AYe pulled away a bit, and the fog came on thicker and swallowed us up, and we lost sight of everything. We had no compass aboard, nor was there anything to show us in what direction to steer. We pulled about for a while, shouting and coo-eeing, and at last we saw a sail, which proved to be the third "mate's boat. He beckoned us over, and told us he was going to try to make for the land, and asked us to go back to the island, and to find the skipper's boat. We did so, shouting at intervals to ascertain the whereabouts of any other craft, and! then listening for the sound of the waves, by which wa guided our boat back to the island. On our way back We passed' ! two rafts, one in charge of Mr Weatherall. He asked us to try and make the land, and then to" come back and guide them. They seemed to be nearer the land than we were, and though we shouted to guide them, we soon lost everything again in the fog. Shortly afterwards the captain's boat loomed up throug-h the fog, and then, the smaller boat being easier to handle in tight places, he and I changed boats, it being- his intention to look for a landing. He then, pulled in • close and tried to effect a landing. A likely spot was fouiid, „ and the ' f orecabin steward got ashore, close to a sheltered cave, bub the ladies could not land there in safety, and we went on, leaving the steward there with the intention of returning for him when the ladies? were landed. We pulled round, but could find no suitable place, so we turned cur attention to the other island, the captain leading. A PLACE POUND. On the way we were joined by the boat of which Captain Reid had charge. We found a landing-place-no t a very good place, but it is any port, in a storm. It would be about o p.im. on Sunday when we reached the spot. Everyone was got ashore safely, and we set about making what few'arrangements were possible for the maintenance and comfort of the party, which numbered 67. We had a case of brandy, which was carefully shared, a keg of water, and a small spring of water was found close by.- We made a tent of the boat's sail, but, as you may guess, there was not much protection for 07 people under one small tent. Wa. managed well, however, and the passengers ibehaved splendidly. HUNTING. FOR FOOD. We hunted round among the rocks and caught some crabs, and we also secured some shellfish. There were some matches among the party—wet, of' course, 'but they were dried by holding them up in the air. We lit a lire, and cooked some of the crabs (Continued on page 2.)