STATEMENT BY A PASSENGER.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 25 April 1907, Page 1

STATEMENT BY A PASSENGER.

"Here I may produce the story of Captain Parkinson, to whom I have already referred, the sole survivor of the wreck. Speaking this morning to a correspondent at the Hook of Holland, Captain Parkinson said : — "I was in my bunk this morning, about four o'clock when I felt it bump. I jumped out and ran on deck without waiting to dress. Close at hand loomed the pier, and I saw we were in for a bad thing, so I ran below and hurriedly put my thick coat on. Then I ran on to the bridge. I said to the captain, This is a bad thing,' and he replied, 'I am afraid it is.' I stayed on the bridge until the ship began to yield. The captain told me that the engines were full speed astern, but we could not get free. "Presently the chief engineer came on the bridge and told the captain that the engine-rooms were beginning to flood. He also added ,'I have left the engines at full speed astern.' After that the captain and mate left the bridge. I do not know where they went. Later on I was joined by the second mate, I think, who advised me to go as the bridge was shaky- H ewent down the ladder. I would net trust myself that way, so I slid down a chain, falling a pait of the way, on to the deck. The passengers were huddled together, the women screaming and the children cryine. But the cold soon killed the children, and then the women, one by one, died. At the end of tho ship, opposite, I saw one woman among the passengers, but do not know how they fared. Earlier I saw that their part was likely to give way, and advised those aboard to come to my end. Soon my advice proved good, for the other part sank slowly, tilling and sliding down. Suddenly a mighty wave struck ns, sweeping us all pff, and as I went downto the water I hit against something, the davit chains, I think. As soon as I came to the surface I began to strike out, but my legs and arms were so numbed I could only kick with my knees together. "I looked round, and saw a thick plank of wood. I swam to it, and got hold. Next a lifebelt came near, then a second, and with these together I kept myself afloat. But I was so cold I could scarcely hold on, and the

heavy waves kept breaking on me. Pre sently I saw a small vessel in tho dis tanoe, and waited till she camo nearer, With difficulty I broko off a piece oi white board, add wrtr^d it an«l triad tc shout, but I seemed to be too fxbaustcd. Presently, just as a curious sleepy feeling was coming over me, she saw me and made signs to the lifeboat. The next instaUt I was ( hooked up by a couple of boathookS. '