BEGA'S SURVIVORS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 168, 9 April 1908, Page 7

BEGA'S SURVIVORS.

\ . v « — \ A CRAVEN PROPOSAL \ TO CAST OFF THE WOMEN'S BOAT. NOT ACTED ON. \ BY TELEGRAPH —I'ItESS ASSOCIATION— COPyhIGHT. \ Sydney, April'-;8. Further nows is to hand regarding the capsizing of the Illawarra Company's steamer Bega, which resulted in one death through shock.. . It took tho Bcga's boats thirteen hours to effect a landing. CONTINUOUS BALING: "CUT THE To«\ LINE." Tho boats were connccted with each other by, a lino. One of them, containing women and children, had to bo baled out continuously, owing to a plug being loft out, and through inability 'to .discover tho aperture in tho darkness and tho crowded condition of tho boat. . Tho women used their, shoes and hits as balers. There were no rowlocks in this boat, which had to be taken in . tow by another—a heavily-laden one. Criqp went up from tho women's boat that they wero sinking. \ Then two or throo men in tho towing boat demanded that tho lino should be cut. Feeling ran high, and an angry sceno followed. This boat was also taking in a good deal of water. THREW THE':.KNIFE' IN THE SEA. A passenger named Sharp, who was . sitting in tho- sterni ; was handed a knifo and asked to cut the line, but ho threw tho knifo into tho sea. i . No food or water had ■ been'' placed in the boats, arid the occupants suffered, much from thirst. ' ,• Four seamen of the. Bega behaved splendidly. They took tho oars on leaving tho steamor, and never ceased pulling for twelve hours.. . When nearing tho breakers tho rowlocks were passed to the boat which was in tow, aiid tho ropo-was severed. Combing breakers boro both craft high up on the beach, where they capsizod, ; but in safety. 1 ' THANKSGIVING ON THE SHORE. Here a touching scone was cnacted. There was a forlorn, tattered party of women, hatless and bootless,. one clad in a nightdress, the.others But half-clad, all fatigued and drenched : tp tho 'skin, minds wearied bp tho anxiety of the wreck 'and tho perilous journey and,horror:of the scene!when it was proposed by siomo cravens to cut them loose, 'to, drift helpless, perhaps to eternity. > ': All. this, had worn .them out, but' thoy: formed into a group mothers with littlo babips 'in their arms, .children clinging round their/skirts- — ,aiid sjtood .on tho lonely sea. .shore, , where they sang two, hymns of thanksgiving to Him who holds the sea in tho hollow of His Who had led thom in safety. ''There was not a dry. eye.present; it wasja reaction that followed a full of, .'incidents, alarm,;-and (danger. i' - - • ' SOME DENIALS. TOW LINE INCIDENT CONFIRMED. > ANOTHER ACCOUNT. ACCIDENTS TO RELIEF STEAMERS. : • i (Rec. April 8, 9.14 p.m.) . - ■ Sydney, April 8. ; :;. Tho stoaiiier ' Pfiterbprouglij which, ■ ''was bringing some of \ the' Bega's.-castaways:;to Sydnoy, put into' Kiaiiia disabled, • owing"to ari.accident to tho air pump.. Tiio castaways wero, landed at Kiama. Tlio other survivors of tho'Bega made tho northward journey'by train. ~ ' Interyipwedj Captaiiv Davios, who was acting chief 'officer of the: Bega,' iintl, who was in chargo of tho. women's boat, declared that wero fitted with everything necessary. 1 He denied that onb boat was' without rowlocks,' and that the plug- was left out.' . Passengers on tho boat which- was towing the women's boat confirm tho statement that a suggestion was mado to, cut,tho ipaiuter, and say it was mado by a seaman, who produced a knifo.. The, suggestion was strongly resented by others in. tho-boat, who, threatened ijough' treatment to anyone attempting ito carry, it out. •. . '. ' The knifo was aftenvards returned to tho owner. ; ' ' '■' " . '; , ; . All who .wero present pay,' tributes to the coolness and' bravery.' of the; women"' and children. Tho steamer Coomonderry, which was. sent to the relief ;of the', remaining castaways, met with an accident:-to hor engines, which .delayed her several hours. .