LUGGER ON FIRE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22972, 25 February 1938, Page 8

LUGGER ON FIRE

ABANDONED BY CEEW LONG SWIM IN STORM ORDEAL OF FIVE MEN * [from oub own corbespondentJ SYDNEY, Feb. IQ Clinging to a flat-bottomed dinghy in wild North Australian seas, Mr. Stirling Eshelby, of Point Charles, near Darwin, -accompanied by three aborigines and a half-caste, had a hazardous three miles swim when, he had to abandon a burning lugger.. Mr. Eshelby had borrowed the lugger, the Prairie Moon, to search for his scow, which he had sent to Bynoe Harbour for timber for his farm at Point Charles. The scow was three weeks overdue. He knew that it carried little food and he took out additional provisions from Darwin. The borrowed lugger ran out of petrol when about three miles from Quail Island, which is about 40 miles from Darwin. An aboriginal was pouring the last tin of petrol into the tank when the engine suddenly back-fired and the petrol burst into flames, setting fire to the engineroom. The aboriginal, who was badly burned about the arms and legs, clambered out of the engineroom screaming with terror, and, with the rest of the crew, dived overboard. Mr. Eshelby ineffectually attempted to smother the flames. His phouts brought the terrified crew back to the boat, but as soon as the flames began to gain control they again dived overboard, leaving him trying to quench the fire with buckets of water. Eventually he was driven back and decided to abandon the ship. The lugger's six-foot flat-bottomed dinghy was pushed overboard. A heavy sea was running, and a few minutes later a terrific monsoonal storm arose. The dinghy threatened to swamp, and only one person could remain in it, the other four of. the lugger's crew hanging on to the sides andtrying to push it toward land. On many occasions they were nearly swept away by huge seas and their terrors were increased by the fear of sharks. As each native weakened, Mr. Eshelby ordered him into the boat, and the man previously in the boat was ordered to swim behind. He himself swam the entire distance. More than four hours elapsed before they scrambled exhausted on to the beach. A few hours later the missing scow arrived, attracted by the burning lugger.