THRILLING STORY OF THE SEA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13453, 1 June 1907, Page 5

THRILLING STORY OF THE SEA.

GIENLUJ'S TERRIBLE

EXPERIENCE.

HOW THE MATE WAS LOST.

A SUCCESSION OF CALAMITIES

[by s telegraph.—press ' ASSOCIATION.]

Dttxkdin", Friday. Further particulars ■■ regarding the experiences of the Glenlui, which was towed into Port Chalmers this morning, show

that the second mate was twice washed out of his bunk, which, as it happened to be a top one, will give came idea- of the volume of water that continually broke in. .'.'■-" .

The steward was caught and borne through an alleyway and the saloon, and then burled against a bicycle banging in the. extreme stern. Everything in the messroom was broken to pieces, and the after saloon and captain's quarters were swamped to the ceiling. The doors of the storerooms -were forced inwards and tons of water poured down the hatchway into the lazarette, and thence found its way into the hold among a cargo of wheat in four-bushel bags. The after part of the vessel suffered most severely, but the forecastle and forward deckhouses stood the strain better than might have been expected. "■ ; ' .

The cook did his utmost, in face of great difficulties, to provide hot tea and'food for the half-frozen crew, he was washed out of hi» galley amid an assortment of cooking utensils. The _galley funnel was torn off, together, with all other top hamper/stowed on top of the deckhouses. <

Nearly everybody on board,' it appears, gave the ship up for lost, but under the orders of the captain, second mate; and boatswain, the crew worked with a Will, hoping against hope. The vessel plunged bodily through the water, and seemed to be gradually settling down. ' It was impossible to remain on deck, and through the night the officers and crew huddled under the shelter of the tarpaulin on the poop, while nearly wrecked, and without boats, the apparently sinking ship strained and shivered. About daybreak the foretopmast staysail-sheet parted, and the sail, napping thunderously, tugged and strained at the stays, threatening to bring down the foremast. .. -

The mate arid boatswain, went- forward, and succeeded in furlong the sail, and they had nearly regained the comparative safety of the poop when the vessel took a huge sea over the starboard quarter, which carried the mate over the side. Lines were thrown to him, but they fell short. ' His face, under his sou'wester, was visible for a little while, with a look of pathetic despair on it, and then the man sank. He was clothed in heavy seaboots and oilskins, which naturally fettered his movements. Nothing,however, could possibly nave been done to save him. ' The boatswain was also caught by the same sea, and was half drowned and covered with bruises. He was then caught by another sea, but clutched a lifeline. IHe says he thought his arms were being torn out. The name of the first mate was Evan Jones, aged 29. 'His address was 23, Wrightstreet, Carnarvon, North Wales. Jones was well-known in New Zealand and; Australian 'PPjfts-' He. joined the Glenlui. at . Adelaide} Irani the ship Hazel Craig. He is believed to have been unmarried. Captain R. C. Scott is a mariner of wide, experience and of 38 years' service in sail-!. ing ships. He hails from Liverpool. ■: When interviewed, he showed unmistakable signs of the ordeal through which he had just passed.- "I suppose you have not been to sleep for three days or nights?" asked a sympathetic bystander. The captain considered, and then replied " No, not for a week." The storm which raged on Monday and ;Tuesday was one of the worst he has ever experienced. Owing to the size of the waves and the fury of the storm, he believed that it would be ' impossible to bring the ship to the wind, and their only chance of safety lay in running before the gale. At one time the vessel was going 14 knots an hour. The captain has lost uninsured private property valued at over £-100. , One whole suit- of sails, except the royals, have been torn to ribbons. Both the fresh water tanks are full of saltwater, and the starboard tank has been stove in. During pumping, one of the pumps got out of gear, but the crew- redoubled their efforts on the one remaining. It is impossible as yet to gauge the extent of the damage done to the, cargo, but there is evidently still a great deal of water in the hold. During the gale. Captain Scott says he cannot explain how the time passed. Day and night were merely a succession of calamities. , * . v •' ; The cargo will probably be discharged, and the vessel docked for repairs, but Captain Scott is taking no steps before instructions arrive from Home. His recent experience has made him tired of the sea, he says —" so' tired, that if there was a bridge from here to Liverpool I'd walk Home."