MEN EXHAUSTED.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLIII, Issue XLIII, 14 September 1909, Page 1

MEN EXHAUSTED.

With the siivf dashing over them, Stewart, the boatswain, encouraged the men to hold fast, saying that all would be well. The waves continued to dash over the men until some of them, utterly exhausted, released their hold. By superhuman effort the boat was righted, and though she was taking in water freely through the hole caused by the collision with the rock, Hie others managed to make the beach between eight and nine o'clock in the morning. , The survivors, numbering nine, after rest, made their wny through tlia bush, nnd eventually reached Slangkop Fiirm, wliero tlie iumatcs gave them attention. Thereafter information of what had occurerd was wired to Simonstowu. The work of rescuing the men still on the ship was oue of great diili iHill.v and danger. What was left of the Maori on Fri•lny was found to be lying in a bay some three miles from Duykcr Point, l'ho afterpart was above water, but i he huge breakers that came smashing in swept the forepart of the ves:el. A cold, cutting wind from the .ea also helped to make communiea-i ion with those on tlw vessel— or ■That was left of it— a matter of exrorne difficulty. ' The sca3 were ter.inc. The part of the bay in which lie poop lay was like some huge cauldron. This was studded with black, jagged rocks, and the water ivas churned to a foam as the seas broke upon them. The ferocity of the breakers was amazing. It was curious, however, that while at times nothing could be seen of the forepart if the ship that remained, it was inly at odd intervals that a big sea -.wept over the poop, rendering those in board absolutely invisible.