TRAGEDY IN MID-OCEAN

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 124, 26 May 1923, Page 10

TRAGEDY IN MID-OCEAN

MATATTJA'S LIFEBOAT CAPSIZES. The story of how two members of the : crew of the Matatua, lost their lives in mid-ocean while launching a boat to rescue a seaman who had fallen overboard, was told to a Sydney "Sun" .representative when the vessel arrived from Antwerp on 3rd May. The Matat'ua was betveen Teneriße and Montevideo when tho tragedy occurred. A seaman, who had been painting the ship, fell overboard, and immediately the vessel hove-to, and No. 5 lifeboat was manned by the chief officer (Mr. Abbott) and four seamen. Tho boat was swung out of the davits and lowered, but before it reached the water one of the end ropes became taught and the other eagged, causing the boat to capsize. The fivo men were tossed into the sea, which was fairly rough, and a second boat had to be launched. . Meanwhile life-belts wore thrown to the struggling men. Tho ship had to be handled carefully, as the men were being washed dangerously cloee to her, and there was every cbanco of their being dashed against he* Bides. Tho lifeboat picked up a seaman, but the man who had fallen over in the first instance was. drowned. The chief officer sank soon after he was ffirown into the water, and was not seen again. The master of the vessel (Captain Williams) manoeuvred the ship with marvellous dexterity, and managed to pick up the other three seamen. , ...... The officers spoke_ highly of Captain Williame'a seamanship. They said they had never seen a vessel of the Matatua's tonnage handled with such apparent ease. It was a remarkable feat for the captain to steer his ship. alongside three bobbing heads, and thus enable the 6eamen to clamber up the lifelines; on the side of ■: the ship. Mr. Abbott' was a popular , officer, and the ship's crew felt his losa keenly.