Untitled

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVII, Issue XLVII, 21 May 1912, Page 6

The very highest traditions of the British merchant service were iraintained when the steamer Guillemot went down in the Bay of Biscay in December last. The sto'ry of the disaster, told to the Court of Inquiry a few weeks ago, is one of the most stirring of its kind. The Guillemot was running from London to Genoa when she ran into a storm m the tiay 3 and the sea made a plaything of her. A wave lifted a boat off its chocks and threw it on to the steam-steering gear, which was smashed. The captain vvas knocked over on the bridge, and had some ribs broken, but he stuck to his post to the end. A passing vessel saw the Guillemot lying helpless in the trough of the sea—among other misfortunes, the cargo' had shifted -and then a wave was seen to break clean over her and swamp her. Of twentythree hands sixteen were lost. There was not the slightest panic. It ust as if you were in cjiurch," said one of the seamen who had survived. The captain spoke to us just like the minister speaks to his people." The passing vessel was the Lincairn, and she .made i splendid effort to save those of the Guillemot's crew who were keeping afloat on wreckage. The captain considered it was not safe to lower a boat, but he first mate called upon a British sea--nan and three foreigners to man a boat, and they at once responded. They were away from the Lincairn for an hour an d a half, and made the ship again with considerable difficulty, but they -saved several lives. The mate o'f the Guillemot was floating alongside the Lincairn for some time, but owing to the rolling of the vessel, and the heavy seas that were breaking over her, he could not be got on board. The apprentice of the Lincairn, who comld scarcely swim, went overboard in the murderous sea with a life-line to try to rescue the mate. It is not surprising that counsel and xJencn commented in unusually warir terms on the gallant conduct of all concerned. Ihe Board of Trade's representative said the English language was quite inadequate to express the feelings of those who had heard the evidence.

\n authoritative statement from Joneva (states a cable message /.P " 1<? n-dnev "Sun") savs that the Swiss .Na;onal Bank, anticipating the possibility f an outbreak of war in Europe, has nst finishe-d printing £1.2G0.0C0 worth f 20-franc war notes. The action taken s in accordance with the 'Swiss Federal iw. which permits such an emergency •irculation in extraordinary circumstances \nd was also the result of a report from ■ne of the ba.nk's directors, who recently nade a careful investigation of the re'ations existing among the great Powers. The notes are not to be issued unless war s -declared.