MOVING TALE OF THE SEA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16538, 14 May 1917, Page 5

MOVING TALE OF THE SEA.

LOSS OF ALNWICK CASTLE. SURVIVORS' SUFFERINGS. ADRIFT 320 MILES FROM LAND. A. and N.Z. Cable. LONDON. May 11. The Press Bureau furnishes fuller particulars regarding the loss of the steamer Alnwick Castle. She was torpedoed a fortnight ago without warning, 320 miles from the Scillics, the nearest land. A total of 139 persons were placed in the boats, including a baby three months old. Captain Chave, master of the Alnwick Castle, reporting to the owners, gives an ! unvarnished tale of the horrors that his boatload of castaways endured during exposure to gales and bitter weather for four days. Captain Chavo had taken the precaution to instal in all the boats supplies of milk, beef, biscuits, and blankets, but the suffering was intense. The survivors were constantly soaked in cold spray, and everybody gradually weakened, while several died. Captain Chavo narrates that the whole of the second day was spent by the crew in fighting the sea. It was impossible to hoist a sail. They lashed two oars together and formed a sea anchor. On the third day thirst intensified the agonies of exhaustion, exposure and sleeplessness. Pitiful appeals were made for water, but he was only able to issue an extra ration to a few of tho weaker ones.' A hailstorm commenced, and the hailstones wore eagerly scraped from the castaways' clothing. He ordered a sail to be spread to catch tho water, but unfortunately the hailstorm passed. Several drank salt water in defiance of orders and became light headed. Next morning most of tho men wero helpless, several raving in delirium, while ono died. "Once tho boat was swamped in the darkness," continued tho captain. "I thought all was over, and a moan of despair rose in tho darkness. I shouted, 'Bale! bale!' and finally by superhuman efforts tho boat was saved. By the morning several men had collapsed, and more lost their reason. They climbed about tho boat, threatening to fight. Tho appeals for water wero so angry that I gave an extra allowance, which was served out amid much cursing and snatching. Only ono ration remained. Another man died, others wero dying. No ono could now eat tho biscuits or swallow anything solid. Everyone's throat was on fire, lips were furred, limbs numbed, hands bloodless, and feet swollen to twice tlk normal size. On the last day three persons died. The French horse boat, Venezia, picked up 18 survivors in the afternoon. They were so enfeebled that they could not walk. All wero hoisted on board and landed in Now York. Captain Chavo does not know whether tho other five boats were picked