NIGHT OF TERROR

Greymouth Evening Star, 1 April 1933, Page 12

NIGHT OF TERROR

BRITISH SHIP ABANDONED. The Bristol cargo vessel Exeter City, of the Bristol City Line, was abandoned in January in a sinking/condition after 22 of her crew had been rescued with the aid of a life-line by the American Merchant. The captain, the third officer, and two of the crew lost their lives before they could be got to safety. The Exeter City got into distress 600 miles off Cape ' Race. Newfoundland. with a very high sea running. She sent out the SOS. “In distress. Lifeboats gone. Hatch No. 2 stove in. Bridge damaged,” and the United Slates liner American Merchant immediately started to steam through a raging gale to her assistance. So bad was the sea that Captain Stedman, of the American Merchant, found it impossible to launch a lifeboat in the normal way. No small craft could possibly live in such water. The gallant little vessel, which had struggled for hours to keep afloat, began to founder, and Captain Stedman saw that the one hope of saving the crew was by firing a line carrying gun. On this frail line, hurled through the howling storm, all their lives depended. The rubber projectile at the end of the line made contact, and enabled a strong cable to be thrown across, and the lifeboat was hitched to this. By this method 22 men who had been in a terrible plight through the long weary hours were drawn to safety. But it was found that Captain Legge, the master of the Exeter City, Ivor Hawkins, her third officer, Seaman Ericson, and Apprentice James Stephens- all Bristol men, had been swept overboard during the night, when the vessel had been tossed like a cork by gigantic waves. It is believed that Captain Legge must have sent out the distress call shortly before he was swept overboard. Finally, with the 22 men safe on board. Captain Stedman abandoned the sea-swept ship. The Exeter City, a freighter of 2,929 tons, was bound for Portland, Maine, from Fowey Cornwall, with a cargo of china clay. Captain Legge, who lived in Bristol, was aged thirty-five. Ivor Hawkins, the third mate, was aged thirty.