FIFESHIRE'S LOST BOAT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14820, 25 October 1911, Page 5

FIFESHIRE'S LOST BOAT.

[from our own correspondent.]

London, September 22. Doubt as to the fate of the occupants of the lifeboat in charge of the second officer which left the s.s. Fifeshire when she grounded off Cape Gardafui has been practically settled. Mr. Clinton, the third officer, has reached Plymouth, and he says that 10 minutes before the occupants of his boat were picked up by the French steamer Adour, he saw the second officer's boat to windward Hearing the shore. He called to the second officer and thought his reply was that the sail had blown away. When Clinton turned his boat seawards the waves nearly swamped her, and he is certain that the other boat was sunk when the second; officer tried similar tactics. The boat contained five women, four children, two male passengers and some of the crew. The chief officer, who, with five picked men, went for assistance soon after the steamer struck, also reached Plymouth a few days ago. He says five days were spent in an open. boat before the rescue was effected, and the occupants were taken to Perim. Gales and calm were encountered on alternate days, and they were driven helplessly towards the coast of Arabia. The men only had a quarter of a pint of water each day, and they were too much exhausted by the tropical sun to eat. Their sufferings were so severe that they could hardly have lived another day. When rescued the boat was 60 miles from the Arabian shore and 200 miles from the wreck.