TWO NIGHTS IN A BOAT.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 294, 5 September 1908, Page 10

TWO NIGHTS IN A BOAT.

LONDON YOUTH'S THRILLING ADVENTURE. CARRIED OUT TO SEA. A London youth of nineteen, named William Rowles, has had a thrilling adventure. On Saturday, July 18, lie was picked up unconscious in tho Bristol Channel, whero ho had been adrift in a small boat for two nights. His rescuo was effected by the steam barge Ludovico, which,, on arrival at Barry on July 19, reported that at noon, when tho ship was off Skerweather Lightship, the look-out sighted an open boat in tho Channel. Howies was found lying unconscious in tho boat, and was taken on board. ...

Interviewed later, Rowles said that two months ago ho walked to Plymouth, seeking employment. Ho secured a borth on board tho three-masted schooner Ella Owens, of Cardigan, and. with her sailed to Swansea. "Last Thursday," ho added, "I went ashoro in tho ship's boat across tho dock and returned 'a couplo of hours later. I could not find tho vessel. No person seemed to know whore she had gono. I thought sho might havo sailed out into tho bay. I rowed out to _ tho pior in order to look for her, and a big wave camo and washed me the bay. I had only one oar to scull with, and could not, thorefore, row back against tho strong current. I was washed'out to sea. I shouted, but failed to draw the attention of anyone on shore. The rain came ; pouring down, and thoro was a strong westerly gal<}} blowing. The sea was running' very high, and I was in a porilous position:'

i small boat rodo the' waves' splendidly,; but I was being tossed about like a cork and was in danger of being pitched °i iV- e Tam hi V? soaked ■ through' .mv clothing and as night camo on' I gavo up hope of being picked up. I spont that night in the bottom of tho boat, clinging to tho scat, baling out tho water, and looking about inc. I knew I was in danger of being run down by any vessel, so I kept a sharp look-out. When daylight camo I found 1 woa on tho open sea. No vessels wore coming near me. a sailing ship appealed, T thought it was my last chance. as ,, - , sllip caDle Dettror 1 thought they would pick mo up. Despite my trantie shouting, crying, and whistling no person appeared on deck, and the vessel passed without taking notico. I had been suitenng from sea siokness through being tessed about, aud was getting .very' 'weak. I he pangs of hunger were gnawing,': and my thirst was painful owing .to tho sea water nhich had got;down my throat. Tho second mght was coming on, arid I was despairing. I had a terrible struggle to keep in the boat. Tho waves, broke in and almost ivaabed mo out.

h n J ♦ !l it. was only when tho boat got on the crest of a wave that I oould see anything around mo, and then I noticed that all shipping was passing about ton miles away. I tried to snatch somo rest by kcomng underneath the seat, but it was "o, S o ™}- waves tore' in upon mo, and I had to get up to use a small'tin to bale out tho water and thus keep hor ■ afloat. 1 was bruised, tired, hm/gry, and giving up all hope whoni tho night came on" for tho second time. I did not seem to caro whether 1 was drowned or not, and it was only at times that I had any hope at all. As I lay in the bottom of tho boat, looking up at tho sky, I prayed- for tho light to giro mo another ehano6/ and, indeed, the night seemed very-short., . . b When the -light camo my hopes 'began to i™ jf 6 "" 1 ' ii . camiofc toll ' you with what joy it was that I_ saw tho Ludovico makin« towards mo, and I felt strong arms' mo over the bulwarks on to 'tho deck. Tho? gave me brandy, and food, and Tarn a littlo stronger now but I ; have had a terrible first experience at sc&.P; ' ... ••