JUMPS FOR LIFE

Greymouth Evening Star, 12 February 1927, Page 8

JUMPS FOR LIFE

GALE RESCUE THRILLS.

A stirring tale of British courage and seamanship was told when the crew of seven of the German schooner Anne Marie, which founded in the North Sea gale recently with 300 tons of bricks in her hold were landed at Weymouth by the Glasgow steamer Carlbeath. Serving on board as mate was the owner, Baron Benno von Stulpnagel, who was aide-de-camp to Hindenburg during the war. “It was the most wonderful piece of seamanship I have ever seen,’ the baron said, referring to the way the Carlbeath was handled by her master; Captain William Mcßeadie. Responding to an S.O.S. message, the Carlbeath came upon Anne Marie ten miles off Sandette Lightship, her batches stove in, her boats smashed, and' her crew chest high in water. Captain Mcßeadie manoeuvred his vessel so close to the schooner’s stern that the crew were able to make a jump for it. Captain Mcßeadie: “I wouldn’t do it again for a thousand pounds. It was a hundred to one chance, and it came off. I decided the only way was to pass under her stern, and give the crew a chance to jump. It was touch and go. We only missed the schooner. by inches. Most of the German crew were practically naked. They had been on the pumps for 48 hours, i nd they were so exhausted that we could gef little out of them. When we mustered the survivors, we were one short, and were about to turn back when we found the Germans’ boy shivering in his shirt over fires in the stokehold.” Captain Mcßeadie to-day received the following telegram from the German Embassy: “Please receive sincerest thanks for heroic action in saving the lives of my countrymen under most difficult circumstances. Shall report matter to my Government.” The German master of the Anne Marie served on German destroyers in naval engagements during the war.