WRECK IN PACIFIC

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21470, 19 April 1933, Page 12

WRECK IN PACIFIC

CREW OF WATER LILY ORDEAL IN AN OPEN BOAT SUFFERING FROM THIRST MAROONED ON AN ISLAND The story of u miraculous escape from drowning in tlio Pacific Ocean was brought to Auckland yesterday by Messrs. John Harris and F. St. J. Parson, of Christchureh. survivors of the wreck of the New Zealand ketch Waterlily, which was taught in a squall off the island of Vaitupu, in the Ellieo Group, early last month and abandoned in a sinking condition, 'i ho crew of four, which included tlio master, Mr. S. Gerard, and an Ellieo islander, entered the yacht's dinghy and reached the shore after a terrific struggle against mountainous seas. "We were lucky to get out of it alive," was the comment of the shipwrecked men when they stepped ashore from the Danish motor-ship Victoria on her arrival from Nauru island yesterday. Clad in khaki shirt and shorts, which was all they had saved from the wreck, they first visited the post office to acquaint their relatives of their safe return, and then proceeded to acquire a new outfit of clothes. The other members of the original crew of nine, all of whom were old boys of Christ's College, returned to New Zealand beforo the yacht met with disaster. Mast Tails Overboard "We left the island of Funafuti late in February for Yaitupu," said Mr. Harris. "Thero were then only three of the crew left on board; the EUice islander with us was an elderly man who wished to reach Yaitupu and lie was of 110 use in an emergency. The trouble started when we were within ]() miles of Vaitupu. Wo struck a squall during the night and in the straining a rigging screw worked its way out and loosened the rigging. We tried to tighten things up, but the port shrouds went completely, and then the mast began to wobblo with great violence. "In such a situation we were shorthanded. it was early in the morning, a heavy sea was running, half our rigging had gone and wo had an awful time trying to get the sails down and the boom clear without smashing our small .lifeboat which, should tlio worst happen, was our only hope. Adrift in Strong Current "The loosening of the mast was a serious matter. It was a very heavy affair for so small a boat and the whole craft shook as it wobbled with terrific crashes from side to side. We had a herculean job trying to stay it and then, just when we got it steady enough to get the boom and the sails clear, over it went. "The mast fell to windward and as we rocked in the heavy swell it kept crashing against the hull, it took us a whole hour to cut it clear with hacksaws and then found we were j making water fast. Wo tried to ric up a jury from the niizzon-mast, but without success. The ketch was now helpless and. what was more disquieting, we found wo were drifting away from the island in an equitorial current at a rate of about two knots. "it Mas then we decided to take to the boat and make for tho land. The seas were so high that it was impossible to get a sight of the shore, so we took a com pass to steer by; wo also put into the boat a kettle of fresh water and some tinned beef. We abandoned the Waterlily at about 10 a.lll. and wo watched her drift away out of sight in a sinking condition. Unforgettable Experience "T don't think any of us will ever forget that trio in the orpii boat. Wo had to contend with a strong adverse current, high'seas and a hot tropical sun. We had no clothes other than shirt and shorts with which to protect our skins from the scorching sun, tho kettle of watf 1 was quickly consumed and we felt we would die of thirst. Wo had two oars and a steering oar and we kept rowing in turns for six hours before we saw the land. "Getting through the reef was a ticklish business, but wo were used to that sort of thing alter our experiences in the islands, and before long three or four native canoes came out to meet us. The natives evidently knew we ■\\ould be suffering from thirst, for they had a plentiful supply of coconuts, which we broached with joy. Our aims and legs, which were severely blistered by the sun, swelled next day to huge proportions. "1 cannot say too much for the hospitality of those natives. We were treated with the utmost care and consideration during the month we wero marooned 011 the island. They are very similar as regards appearance, customs and language, to the Maoris, and we quickly came to barn the-r spoech. A small trading vessel finally took off Mr. Parson and mvsolf, calling at Funafuti, as well as Bern, Apcmatna and Tarawa Islands in the Gilbert Group, beforo reaching Ocean Island, where we joined the steamer." Mr. Gerard, Mr. Harris stated, decided to remain 011 Vaitupu. Saved by Government Veto A fifth survivor of the wreck was the ship's cat. it was one of two halfPersian kittens presented to the crew at Lyttalton. A bedraggled and sorry animal, it was put into the lifeboat just before the Waterlily was abandoned and reached the shore rather puzzled to know what all the trouble was about. It was presented to the natives. The rescued men owe their lives to the persistency of a Government department. When tho Waterlily lay at Wellington last year she was detained bv t;io Marine Department, which refused to allow her to go to sea without a lifeboat. A 10ft. boat was eventually donated to tho crow by Mr. 11. E. Card, of Kastbourne. That boat, named Banker, after tho famous racehorse owned by the donor, which won the New Zeaiand Clip some years ago, saved the lives of four men. Messrs. Harris and Parson consider there is no chance that the Waterlily remained afloat. They say she had 10 tons of rock ballast on board, an auxiliary engine, which was never used after having Auckland, weighing two tons, and tho hull was leaking considerably. They searched the horizon from the shore next day, but could see no trace of the yacht.