SEVEN MEN DYING IN A BOAT

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 209, 2 September 1911, Page 17

SEVEN MEN DYING IN A BOAT

THEIIt HEROIC RESCUE AT THE LAST t-JASP IN A WILD SEA. Dispatches received at Queenstown last month from Boston, U.S.A. gave particulars of the heroic rescue of seven men at sea when at the last gasp. <"aptaln Dormand, of the Isondon steamer Matoppo, which had just tout-bed at that port, reported that during the prevalence of the hurricane in the Sea of Japan, the officers of the steamer sighted an open boat lull of men huddled together in the bottom of the frail craft, and apparently dead. The men did not respond to the signals made from the steamer, and a number of the crew volunteered to lower a boat and see for themselves what condition the castaways were In.

In tie face of the awful weather conditions it appeared madness for the seamen to risk their lives on such a mission, bat they determined to face the difficulties of dangei tn the hope of beitij; able to save their fellow-men. After a frightful struggle, during which the rescue boat was several times tilled with water, the drifting boat was reached. It was then found that seven men were In the boat, which was half-filled with water, and they were all in a dying condition, as a result of several days" terrible exposure, during which they were without food or water. They proved to be Japanese fishermen, and were unable to move. I'nder most perilous and trying curcumstances, they were lifted out of their boat by the sailors, after another desperate struggle against the storm. The steamer's side reached, the Japanese were slung on board by means of ropes. Hot drinks were given them, and after some time they recovered and related n story of great suffering. They were subsequently landed at Kuchinotsu. The Japanese Government, on learning of the British crews heroism, decided to present them with a set of solid silver cups.