THE NIGHT SHE STRUCK.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLVII, Issue 205, 30 August 1913, Page 3

THE NIGHT SHE STRUCK.

STOKY OF THE WRECK

1 Thrillins indeed must have beer. the experiences of the cre\t when the ship's forefoot clawed the rocks (says The Dominion). Prior to yesterday they were reticent about it, but now they are beginning to talk. It seems that when the vessel was coming down the coast, thick, blinding rain-squalls and very dirty weather were experienced. At times the steamer only travelled from five to ax knots a.n hour against the storm, and between East Cape and Cape Palliser land was sighted on tour occasions only. On rounding Cape Palliser Monday mght'-Theavy south-east gale and sea were felt in all their fury. The Devon was in light trim and made heavy weather of it. She rolled and pitched like a cork. But she battled on About 6 p.m. on Monday the beam of Pencarrow light was divined, rather than seen, but a little later the light itself came into view, clear and bright. Some time after, the low-level" light was picked up, ajid all appeared to be going well. The captain and acting-officer were on the bridge a+ the time. Presently something that appeared to be Somes Island white sector was picked ht>, and then the red light on Falcon Shoal. At times heavy showers of rniri <oame down a*nd made vision difficult. All the lights were kept in

:, view, „ however, and it was -thought .ithat the old Devon would make port in an. hour or two. . With the harbor lights apparently opened up, and with. Pencarrow's lowlevel light bearing over tihe starboard bow. full steam was made for the entrance. Everything appeared to be safe. "ROCKS ON STARBOARD BOW!" Suddenly, however, a cry was heard from the lookout man: "Rocks on the starboard bow, sir! • Rocks on the starboard bow!" The fourth officer also noticed the rocks and repeated the cry. Immediately this warning was given tihe' green sector of Somes Island light is stated to have opened up, and the captain shouted to the man at the wlieel, '•Starboard your helm!" Before the order could be executed, however, ' thevpevon. was on the rocks, hard and fast. j "WENT ON WITH AN AAVFUL ( CRASH." 1 "She went on with an awful heave and crash," said one narrator, "and immediately big seas came right over us aft." ! Down.,below in the engine-room the engineers and firemen and trimmers had to quit for their lives. Rocks pierced their way right through the, i vessel's bottom, and two minutes ( ; :ifter she struck the engine-room and stokeholds were flooded. It was a ease of "all hands on deck." Life■i belts were served out, and in the i blackness of the night air the crew j huddled together on the forecastle I head. Rockets and distress signals ■were fired at intervals. The Wahine answered to tihe calls, tut she could not do anything in such weather. i Those anxious men saw her steaming ; away from themj and hope went out : for a time. • j CREW HUDDLED IN THE BOWS. | There were no lights on board, and rain came down in torrents. The wind blew with hurricane force from the south. All en board were wet through and chilled. , Sea after sea came clean over the rail aft, and as each big ocean roll hit the stern the vessel rose, and then came crashing on the rocks. . Towards midnight the cale increased. ■ The ship rocked in the gript. of the rocks and sea, and the crew expected her ix> break up. It was impossible to launch a. boat, and any attempt to effect a landing would (they thought) have meant death. So all night the ship's company of fifty-one remained huddled in the bows. Splendid discipline prevailed, however, and the captain's orders were obeyed promptly. DASH FOR A WEDDING RING. So serious did the outlook seem that a member of the crew made a rush, to his cabin to secure a keepsake ring which he had left there. "You see this ring," he said, holding up his little finger. '<Well I collared that, and that only. It was given to me by my wife on our wedding day. I usually wear it on the little finger of my left hand, but on Monday night I forced it on the first finger I came to. T thought that if my body was picked up in the morning I could be identified by this ring " . This story from a sailor who has been through many hard times at sea speaks for itself. It seems to show what members of the 'crew thought cf their chances that night. HOW SHORE TALKED TO SHIP. When Captain Johnson arid his party arrived on the beach on the morning of the wreck, the first question which he asked by Morse signal lamp was: "What is your name?" The answer came twinkling; back acrossthe black space, "D-E-V-0-N." Then a message was sent telling those on board that the harbormaster and a wreck gang were on the beach to do all they could to help those on board. The next question asked by the ship's company was: "When do you think the weather j will moderate?" I "During the next twenty-four ! hours," was the reply. I Immediately the lamp on the foreI castle head blinked out: "We wiP' i try to get a line ashore at daylight." Captain Johnson replied : "Don't attempt to get ashore. It is fatal. You are safer whexe you are. Wait till daybreak. We will stand by you ,and render all help possible." For the next two hours the huddled forms of those on board could be seen in the bows. At dawn presented a pitiful sight. Through a pair of glasses tihe crew looked worn out with their night's vigil. The rest of tihe story has been told, save that the first man ashore grasped his rescuers' hands in his own, and with tears in his eyes thanked them for saving his life This pathetic scene was witnessed again and again till (with three cheers) the captain was landed on the beach in safety.