STORY OF THE SEA.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIII, Issue 101, 27 April 1909, Page 3

STORY OF THE SEA.

woman's terrible1, experiences.

The terrible experiences of a lady in a collision at sea was told in the Under-Sheriff's Court. . Mrs! Dingle brought an action against Messrs Elders and Eyffes, Ltd.', shipowners, for personal injuries. Mr Sanderson, K.C.j said the plaintiff was; the wife of a retired master mariner, who now held the appointments of postmaster at Alexandria, and also the head of the Seamen's Home and Harbour Mission. Mrs Dingle held the posts at Alexandria jointly with her husband. On October 4of last year Mrs Dingle was a passenger on the s.s. Dundee, which sailed from Liverpool to Egypt. They were in Cardigan Bay when a thick fog came on. The Dundee was run into by the Matina, * and the captain, the mate, and another lost their lives. The plaintiff secured a lifebelt and went to the upper deck. The Matina again crashed into the Dundee, and; the frightened passengers had to leave the bridge and seek refuge elsewhere. Whilst being assisted into a lifeboat Mrs Dingle slipped and fell, injuring her leg. It was found impossible to move her, and therefore a rope was passed round her body, and she was lowered into the sea. She was swung against the side of the Matina, and'after being suspended for some time she found that the knot was slipping. She was becoming exhausted, and the rope was slipping away when the chief steward swam to her and adjusted the knot. As the Dundee settled some wreckage crashed against her, forcing her against the side of the Matina. When taken on board she was terribly ill, and it was not thought, at first that she would recover. Her injuries were such that no doubt her health had been permanently affected. The plaintiff was too ill to appear, but her, evidence was read to the court. After hearing medical evidence, the jury assessed damages at £650, and judgment was entered for that amount, with costs.