AT SEA.

North Otago Times, 2 December 1911, Page 3 (Supplement)

AT SEA.

A SHIPWRECK EXPERIENCE.

After all the women and children were gone, I began to think it was time to take my own passage.. Nothing', I hope, would have induced me to leave the. sinking Mcrida earlier ; but as soon as it came to the turn of tho' men, I was distinctly conscious of a resolve that I would not if I could help it, be tho hindmost. The boat I took was not on tho davits, but in tho water, and thcro was a good deal of "crowding for a place on tho rope-ladder descending to her.

A planter from Campenchc got into the boat, and his Bon was about to follow; but, seeing me, the young man stood aside, saying, "'You go ahead—l can swim like a fisb." Rather to my surprise, as I look back, I accepted the offer, with the result that the father and son were separated, for I was scarcely in the boat before it pushed off. He burned up all right in the end ; but I don't like to think of what I should now be feeling if he hadn't.

Behold me, then, In a (rightfully overcrowded boat, with nobody (or, rather, with everybody) in command,, in a dense log, on a sea which had seemed nothing from tho deck of the Merida, but which proved, on closer acquaintance, to be rolling pretty heavily. This was distinctly the most unpleasant part of the experience The overcrowding was increased by the fact that we all wore lifebelts, which are Faletafflan and most oumberous garments, There was no room to work the oars there was no light; overyone was Bhouting contrary orders; tho man at tho stccr-Ing-oar apparently could not steer, and certainly did not know where to steer to.

In two minutes we could sco no more of the poor Meridn, settling dumbly to her doom. So far as I could , make out, we were drifting aimlessly about, and simply trying to keep out of the trough of the sea. I wanted to help the man at the oar nearest me, but could get no purchase on it, and was, moreover, surprised to find myself as weak as a kitten. At first I thought I must be faint from hunger; but presently I recognised an old enemy-sea-sick-ness. All this time I could not make out that we were getting to anywhere in particular.

Suddenly, however, a steamer loomed out through the fog a fow yards ahead of us, Bhe had a notable list to starboard; but, aa her electric lights were all burning, ebe was evidently in no Immediate danger, Sho was the moit comfortable .oight I had seen since the Hghtß went out on the Merida.-William Archer, in the London "Leader."