The Rescue of the Northumber land’s Crew.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 20902, 19 May 1887, Page 2

The Rescue of the Northumber land’s Crew.

, The following interesting account of | the rescue of the crew of the NoithumI a feature of the recent disaster i which was scarcely referred to in tic telegrams—is taken fi oin the Napier livening News. Preparations were made early to assist the crew ashore when, as was only too certain to happen, the ship should strike the beach, A rocket apparatus was provided, but it was out of order, and proved perfectly useless Two rockets fell short, and three others broke away and travelled off without the line, owing, it is said, to the connections being rotten. An attempt was then made to send a line from the ship by fastening it to a floating object. A wise choice was not made in the object, a plank being used, and much time was lost because the surf did not throw it up far, with the drag of the line upon it. A cask would have answered far better, At length, as it was evident the plank 1 would not be thrown up, three or four 1 plucky fellows, H. Monteith, it. Lyman j and K. Forne, with lines sound them. I dashed into the suin' at considerable risk, i and with numb difficulty got hold of the j plank and its line, and thus established a •

slender communication with the ship, which was quickly converted into a substantial ono by passing aboard a stout new mooring line. A cradle was rigged with light lines to draw it backward or for£ ward, and the work of rescue com* menced It was alre uly growing late in the evening when the life-line was fixod, and almost before its efficiency was tested darkness fell, hurried on by thick sky au-l obscuring clouds. As each man was fixed in the simple sling, and was ready to go, a hoarse roar from the ship that was heard above the thunder of the surf gave the signal to haul in tue flying line. A score pair of hands t>rasped, and a score pair of arms maintained a dead pull on the life-line to keep it as tight as possible ; another score or so hauled in the sling line, as fast as hand would go over hand, while one or two men carefully coiled up the slack as it came in. For a few moments nothing could ta 3cen. Then a dark speck showed itse f against the foaming whitened dangling insecurely and moving rapidly down the curve of the cable, so rapidly that dio o hauling the line could scarce get hand over hand quick enough. Aa the still indistinguishable speck neared the lowest point of the curve all eyes were upon the incoming waves, which came crashing on far fas er than the sptek could be haiilo i a’ong. These critical mo nents in each man’s trying journey seemed lmgor than al l the rest. Though iho »ctu<l disanco seemed short it must hare then really considerable. Sorao we o f .runido. One man seemed to osepe even a ducking, but o’hers f ire 1 'll. Some wero caught by « s rong boi iog surf and ossod about violently. On one poor fellow a hugo ware broke fairly, and drove him down as if it would bury him fa; home deep in the s linMo, or at least would tear him away from the line. A few —that seemed many —seconds la'e.r, howover, ho was seen to bo still on tht s ing, and s thrill of re ief passed through the anxiously wntdiing throng. As each man ivared the shore half a dozen men ran into the flowing sm f to meet him. to help h : m out of the sling and up tho beach to the shelter of a vehicle, A hearty cheer rang out hs each was released from the s ing and found lo be safe and sound, None seemed mnch the worse for his unwelcome dance in tho waves, and each wa.ked up the beach wi h ltlt'o ass:stauco. Faithful to duty, and true to tho traditions of In's profession, the last to oomo ashore was Giip'aiu Todd. An unpleasant feeling was erea'o'l by a slight mishap in Ids case. Tho lino was hau'ed in before he had got into the sling, and as lie shouted something that was hear 1 as “ carried away,” the majority, wh > were unaware ill-t on'y the cap'uin was lef on b lieved tint som one had fil en out of the sii ig and a cry was raised for a look on i'i the surf for apissib e s rong swimmer battling for his life, or for a helpless corpse, the sport of tho turbulent waters. Those in chargo of tho line, however, knowing that they had but one more haul to mike, knew what had really happened— that the cap 1 tun ws stilt safo onboard as he was ab'e to shout so !us« ti'y. The c. ad'o had boouhaitled uat to the shore, but was let go wh m it wis soen to be emp v, and it slowly ciept bick under lie influence of a pull at tbs other end The eap'ain had a roug i trip, bo ; ng knocked about probably as much os any of them, exeept tho one spec ally mentioned, But his journey ended a length. The whole crowd joined in the cheer that marked die successful comp'etion of the life-saving work, and the master and llio friends who surrounded him almost hodden under fool bv tho press of people anxious to git a glimpse of the last man from the wreck. Tli - lirst man was got off a life before 5 o’c'oek ; aplain i.’odd was sife on s'iore at l a'f-pait fl.