KETCH IN DISTRESS.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13171, 18 July 1908, Page 4

KETCH IN DISTRESS.

Shortly before one o'clock yesterday morning the signalman at the station on Adderley Head noticed, blue lights burning, and signal rockets' firing along iho Peninsula a few miles to the southward of the Beads. A strong south-west gale was blowing and the driving clouds almost obscured the moon. Some vessel wa* in distress, but /whether large or small it was impossible to say. The signalman communicated by telephone ■with Captain A. H. Thorpe, acting .harbourmaster, who at once ordered the tug Canterbury to proceed to the assistance of the vessel, which was too far off to bo identified. The tug, with Captain Brown, pDot, on board, left at 1.30 a.m., but it was Sve hours later before ehe returned to Port with the ketch Lily in tow. Tho wind was howling from the south-west, and thoso on board the tug had a verj unpleasant time, but tho two men on board the ketch, Captain J. M. Etheridge and bis crew of one, Richard Nod, der, had had-the most trying experiences. A' "Truth" reporter visited tho Lily yesterday, and the little vessel, which is only 25 tons burthen, showed unmistakeable signs of a rough handling. Her sodden decks end torn and tattered sails epoke eloquently of the heavy seas and fierce squalls* of the dirty night outside. Captain Etberidge, a young but weather-beaten skipper, cold and wet and tired, supplied the reporter with sorao details. The Lily, with a quantity of cargo on board, left Little Akaloa at 5 a.m. on Thursday for Lyttelton, but the wind was very light, and shortly afterwards dropped to a calm. Tho Lily was off Decanter Rock between Little Akaloa and Decanter Bay ivhen, about 2.30 p.m., sho was struck by a terrific squall from the south-west. The sea quickly got up, and although the vessel was little moro than half a mil© from the shore, it was impossible to see the land, .owing to the blinding hail and rain. The ketch was under reefed mainsail and mizzen sail and the jib, but this small spread of canvas was ripped and torn by the violent gusts. Tho squall lasted about two hours, and Captain Ether idge low©red his sails and dropped his anchor, with seventy-five fathoms of cable out. Although the rain and hail ceased, tifie wind and sea increased hourly, and about 8 p.m. the vessel commenced to drag her anchor, she being then about blowing hard from the south-wcet, and tber© was a great sea running. The Inly shipped very heavy water, plimgi n? bSi y°7-f un ° er continually. Cap. tain Etheridge was knocked down four hL/f tim « sl >?.^ e seas which brokeon board, and wliich washed the wedges and battens off the hatches The skipper and his mate " did all' that vSeF°w& f \ r the ■**»* of the MSf X whlch >, however, continued to W B h hG V n u hor - uAs the ketch got further off shore the wii 1 and sea became worse. Shortly .after bright S°i T. 43 & OU ±3&P mile * off the S 116 ™ 1 * , thon decided to signal Lyttelton Heads for assistance He burned four blue lights and fired on Adderloy Head, who answered each one with a white light, lifrffr«Au° n ? and wiit, the ESS T «»,«■« •■J*"™ Si tffi" Ime f ™ lcd ™ d <»rried iwav ftl asj**ta ,h^&l^ls