A TEBBIBLIV TALE OF THE SEA

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 10 February 1908, Page 3

A TEBBIBLIV TALE OF THE SEA

AN HEROIC "VICTIM / * THIBST AND LOSS OF LIFE A CHINAMAN'S HAPPY THOUGHT, (Beceived 9.36 a m.) PERTH, Monday. The Windsor h.is completely disap the boats were washed away after the first contingent of the crew were landed. Nictiolson, an apprentice, who was the • last to leave the ship, says that as they had no further boats it was impossible for the rest of the crew to gam the reef Captain gave' orders to en deavonr to float ashore lines attached to gratings in order to establish commum cation with -those on the reef He also fired rockets attached to signal hal yards, but all of these fell short The chief engineer made an attempt *o swim ashore with a. line, and after a desperate struggle succeeded in. gaming a footing on the reef> but he was ex hausted by his efforts and was carried away by the back wash He was then ' earned out to sea and drowned in view of all hands. . Shortly afterwards the funnel of the " steamer fell by the board, and it was seen 'that the .vessel's back was broken. By this time tremendons seas were thun denng over the decks and all hands were dinffina to the lines on the bridge. At aW 4 o'clock in the afternoon -the mainmast went by ihe board, and was washed ashore. All this tune the second and third om ccrs remained on the reef, but were powerless to render assatance, and a* ihnset the latter left for the island. Captain Walters And the mate remam- , ed in the saloon, but the rest of the crew and the apprentices stayed lor"Upon, coming on deck the following morning," continued Nicholson in. his account, "we found all the after part of the vessel np to the foremast broken up and washed on "to the reef, the captain and mate being lost. Nest morning a party searched the shore for the bodies, bit without result We took refuge in one of the deckhouses, and again en-i deavoured to float lines ashpre. A rescue oartv also attempted to reach us with wSkfts A couple of the rockets fell Sver the A bat the lines broke The . Cheese witfiSis appeared to become rlysed with fear and exposure An time we kept boys tolling the bells to attract attention. When we saw tie rescue- party leave at fitoset we gave up alLhope. We remained all night huddled In the forecastle. Next morning the Chinese -took down their pigtails and prayei to their joss for the wind and sea -to- subside. They then turned into their bunks and commenced wailing Abont^an hour afterwards the Chinese cook attempted to commit suicide with a chopper. " j "Up to this time- we had Men witnonfc water, and two' of. the^Chinese commenced drinking salt water The sea was Timor sweeping completelyiverthe vessel, Xrwal™pidly>eakWup the fore ImUb beine (Tutted In the afternoon a Sckw tnmmer lashed himself to a who were up, to their armpita in *n« JU TS g «h^wrecked survivors remained on tU reel all th« night, and wer» ta>n to tb* island ifl UuTßorsing.