Survivor's Story.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15482, 13 December 1913, Page 2 (Supplement)

Survivor's Story.

Mr. W. F. Yowles. the assistant scoutmaster, who was on deck when the collision occurred, gave a graphic account of the disaster. "The night,' he said, "was quite clear, and we could plainly see the lights of other vessels. Two" steamers had passed us, and we were tacking towards the Tilbury side, there being a slight head wind.' Captain Olley remarked to me that another steamer was approaching; I paid no further attention until Captain Olley said: " She is coming down on us!" " We had anticipated no danger from the steamer. The helm had been put down to go on the port tack, and the Mirror was in stays when we observed the vessel porting her helm. Without any warning whatever she crashed into us right amidships. The scouts were all m bed at the time, and after throwing overboard the lifebuoy which hung on the aft shrouds I rushed to the forecastle hatch and ordered them all on deck. " I then went to the port side 1 to ascertain what damage had been done, and how long we were likely to keep afloat. One glance was sufficient to show she might sink at any moment, so I then went back to the starboard side, where J found seven or eight boys crowded into the dinghy, which was hauled up on the davits. " Owing to all the gear connected with the boat falls being washed overboard, together with their ropes in ,i hopeless tangle, it would have been impossible to lower the boat in time. I therefor.) ordered all the boys out of the ooat and up the port, fore-rigging and shrouds, our only chance being to be picked off from there by the steamer, the step of which remained joined in the ketch's side, and this helped to keep her afloat. "The crew of three.of the ketch and two or three boys were saved in this way. Before the others could be got from the rigging the ketch lurched forward, and went down by the head, throwing the remainder into tho water. I paddled alongside the steamer's port bow shouting to those on the deck ot the steamer to throw lines, which they did, and, grasping one of these, I .was hauled on board, and one scout was rescued at the same time and in the same way. "When J got aboard I found the crew of three and five scouts on deck. The Hogarth lowered a boat and picked up three more scouts, who were hanging on to the wreckage. A search was made" but no sign or sound was to be seen or heard of the others, which leaves four unaccounted for. "The boys were perfectly quiet, and obeyed orders as if they ' were drilled soldiers." « Up to Neck in Water.

One of the daring acts which the oxtremity of the danger produced was that of Scoutmaster Yowles "himself. "As the yacht was sinking," said a companion, "he went below to ascertain if any scouts had been left behind. He found nobody. Below the water was up to his neck.'"' None of the lads had a narrower escape than Ernest Snowden. He was in his bunk asleep when roused by the collision, and he scrambled out to discover that the water in the cabin immersed him to the shoulders. He struggled on to the deck as the yacht fell away from his feet, leaving him afloat. He observed the Hogarth, and began to swim towards her, and was picked up by the boat. Another survivor said:—"! was not rescued before the vessel sank, but went down with her, clinging fast to the rig ging in which 1 was entangled; on coming to the surface 1 was swept by the swirl of the water 20 yards away." but before sinking a second time was Seized hold of by one of the crew in the Hogarth's boat and pulled in."