DRAMA OF THE SEA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17662, 24 December 1920, Page 2 (Supplement)

DRAMA OF THE SEA.

A THRILLING RESGUE, CAPTAIN SAVES STOWAWAY. After a two months' voyage, during which she encountered a succession of storms, the 1800-ton barque Yvonne, a foar-masted ship, was wrecked on Flymonth Breakwater. With a load of logwood, the Yvonne had set out from Jamaica to Havre. So bad was the weather that she had to lay to four times. At the month of the English Channel she ran into the worst gale of the series, -with mountainous seas. Under almost bare masts she raced up Channel, just escaping the Eddvstone Bocks. Darkness coming on, the captain decided to se p k shelter in Plymouth Sound, but when the sai's were hoisted the gale blew them to ribbons. There v»as a tremendous sea on, and the ship failed to make the western entrance. Suddenly some of the crew were heard shouting " Breakers ahead !" and almost simultaneously the ship crashed on to the seaward &ids 01 Plymouth Breakwater. Heavy seas pounded the Yvonne, great waves washing right over her. The captain assembled the crew of cineteen on the poop. The wireless sent out •' 5.0.5.," aud continued doing so until the seas smashed the apparatus. After that rockets were fired and flares burnt. The crew had to be moved to the forecastle head, where they remained four hours, huddled together, cold and hungry, drenched to the skin, and expecting every minute to be washed overboard. Towards midnight a Government tug and another vessel were seen struggling to approach, but, to the dismay of the sailors, terrific Mas prevented their coining near. Boat Founders. Searchlights from neighbouring forts lighted the wreck, and reassure'd the "waiting men. The crew saw the lifeboat standing under the lee of the breakwater, but nnable to get nearer. They realised that they mast trust to their own resources. The starboard lifeboat on the Yvonne was found completely smashed, and the poit lifeboat was full of water. Every sn&u was given a lifeeelt, and tho remnants of the remaining' lifeboat were lower.id to the breakwater. The sailors, waiting their chance between breakers, scrambled overboard with ropes, and with a great shout of joy, slid the lifeboat down the breakwater's incline into the sea and waded aboard. Aa Boon as the lifeboat left ths shelter <Df the breakwater she foundered, throwing her twenty occupants into the sea, which quickly separated them. Among them was a lit fa stowaway, a Jamaica boy of sixteen, discovered in a coal bunker ■when the vessel was three days out. He couid not swim, so Captain Gerhard Thonnessen perched him on his shoulder, and after a hard struggle, swam to the Ply mouth lifeboat. a' line was skilfully thrown by one of the lifeboat's crew, and both, were dragged aboard. aa Yoa Risked Your Lives."' Orajsing about among the swimming sailors the lifeboat rescued eighteen. Ones for help came from the darkness, "*>ut, on_ going in that they could discover no oris. The two lifeboats, on© trom Plymouth and the other' from River Yealm, did magnificent work, and were frequently swept by seas from bow to stern. A coxswain said it was the most mountainous sea- he had encountered in a lone experience. • ° Seven nationalities era represented by She rescued men. They were very expressive _in their gratitude, one Frenchman wringing the hands of the lifeboatmen, and saying " You are very, very crave, and risked your lives to save crura." Captain Thonnessen, who ia a Norwegian, said he knew the men could swim, hut realised that the little stowaway could not. Tho boy had, he said, stood on the edge of the breakwater too terrified to move. " I shoated, _ e Corns along with me sonny f tha captain added, 'end he perched en my shoulder. It was a hard straggle we mastz S at last to catch a line thrown to ns from the lifeboat, and wars fiauled on board." Captain Thonnessen said that the search. -Sights from tho fort were of considerable assistance.