TERRIBLE ORDEAL

Evening Star, Issue 20510, 14 June 1930, Page 30

TERRIBLE ORDEAL

SHIPWRECKED PASSENGERS THRILLING ADVENTURE. In dense fog off Jhc .Scottish coast at Lerwick thirty passengers, including a number of children, on the Aberdeen mail steamer St. Sunniva, had a thrilling escape from death. Tho vessel ran aground and was wrecked near the unin- • habited island of Mouse just before 4 a.m. : The alarm was sounded and passengers f and crew took to the boats.. which were | launched with difficulty. There was no time to collect clothing, and the discomI fort of the. passengers, most of whom j were in night attire, was increased by drizzling rain. They were landed on the I lonely shore of Mouse, whore the only | shelter was a hut provided for ship--5 wrecked mariners. | When nows of the accident, reached | Lerwick the fishery cruiser Vaila and the j 1 steamer Earl of Zetland steamed to the scene and took off all the passengers and crew, who were numb with shock and exi posuro when they reached Lerwick. I Thrilling stories were told by survivors, j Two dumb children were tended care- * fully by the crew, and one lame boy escaped in his shirt. Although his limbs j were frozen, he did not complain. I Passengers agreed that they owed their lives to (he prompt action of tho ship’s officers and crew. “ When 1 came on ! dock and was given a lifebelt I thought j j the end had come,” confessed a woman j j passenger. “ All around was a heaving i mass of water, and on the landward side !- the rock-bound coast was ringed with j white foam from breaking billows.” ; i The Punniva’s stewardess declined to j leave with the women, and quitted tho | ship along with the men. I