WRECK OF THE ERROL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14580, 20 July 1909, Page 8

WRECK OF THE ERROL

DETAILS OP THE RESCUE. NEWS BIT MAIL. CFrom Our Own Coitnr.sPomxT.) AUCKLAND, July 19. Owing to the Tofua, with the survivors of the Norwegian barque Errol, which was wrcckcd on Middleton Reel', arriving in Sydney only 011 Wednesday morning last, the date of the departure of the Mokoia for Auckland, Sydney files to hand by the latter steamer yesterday naturally do not contain very full details of the sea- tragedy, but I am able to cull the following account it appears that as the Tofua approached iMiddleton Reef it was noticed wiih the aid of the powerful glasses 011 the bridge that there were two wrecks visible upon it where formerly there had been but one. This news spread like wildfire among the passengers, and a hundred pairs of glasses were focussed upon the unfortunate vessel as the Tofua rounded up within a quarter of a mile oil her anil slowed down. Jt was then noticed that the wreck must have been ijuiU) recent, as though her topmasts and topgallant masts had gone by the board, her fore lower mast was standing, and from the cock-billed yard hung the foresail, much worn but still iniact. Her jibbonm was still standing, and from it hung the three head sails, washing lazily about in the heavy swell which rolled over the reef. The ship lay canted outward to an angle of at least 65 degree.-:, lying practically on her side, and the midships section bail parlcd company with the stem and stern and sunk lrom sight into (kr;ier wafer. Only (he extreme main yurdarm was showing above to tell when: it lay. Hut all those eagerly-levelled glasses could delect no sign of life on v/nat remained of the illfated vessel. The powerful bridge telescope, however, had revealed something that caused a command of " Full speed ahead" to be issued. Two little pennants had been seen llulteriiig lrom the masthead of the old wreck, which is lodged in a more stable position further round the reef and which is upright. The Tofua quickly steamed round to the only opening in the horseshoe-shaped reef, and Captain Holford took her to the confined anchorage within. 11l a very few minutes .No. 5 boat was lowered and speeding over the calm waters of the lagoon inside the reef in chaige of Mr Brighton, the chief oliicer of the Tofua. What was at first thought to bo a boat was descried from the bridge labouring painfully to meet No. 5, but a closer scrutiny through the telescope revealed the nature of it more clearly.- It- was. a roughly-made punt, propelled by means of an old tarpaulin hoisted as a sail and one large roughly-fashioned paddle. A wave of excitement swept over those lining the rails of the steamer as the boat and raft were seen to meet-. A jug o[ strong beef tea and some weak brandy and water had been taken by the rescuing party, and those who were lucky enough to have a strong pair of glasses (the boats were upwards of a mile away) could see the jugs exchanging hands as the shipwrecked men seized with avidity upon the strengthening and sustaining mixture. A quarter of an hour later as the ship's boat came alongside again 11 ringing chcer burst spontaneously from half a hundred throats, and there were many wet eyelashes among the ladies and men choking down suspicions lumps in the throat as the poor, haggard, attenuated specimens of humanity used their final flicker of energy in attempting to answer it in hoarse, unnatural guttural tones. There were five of them—four men and a lad—and of these three had to be carried up the gangway, eo utterly exhausted were they. They were received at the head of the gangway by Mr Crcsswell, the chief steward, who banded iheni over to Mr Clements, the second class - steward, to whose untiring efforts 011 their behalf they owe their present convalescent condition. The Sydney interviewers found it very difficult to get any definite or coherent statements from the survivors of the awful tragedy. They were all (00 weak to speak plainly, and the most they could do was to tell in piecemeal some of the most, dreadful things that it has ever fallen to the lot of seafaring men to experience. These disjointed sentence gave only an inkling of the awful sufferings endured by the unfortunate people. The emaciated forms of the five survivors of the ill-fated barque afforded painful evidence of their terrible experiences. Bjorn Oftdale, a mere youth, when seen at the Scandinavian Home the same morning, seemed too weak lo speak, but when a nurse asked him if lie felt sick he cheerfully replied "Oh ! I'm all right." He certainly did not appear to be all right, but probably he was comparing his slate with that of 1 few days previously, wlic-n slow and certain death was the fate he believed to be his portion. Eillert Jensen was in a similar condition physically, and from his appearance he certainly could not have Jived much longer. Anders .Tohanson, a middle-aged man, was cut about a bit, but he was stronger than the other two. Patrick ['aimer was the best-conditioned man of 1110 five, and lie had a pretty good recollection of the 14 days' suffering lie had endured " We're the last of 22," ho said. " That's including the captain's wife and four.children. Five of us got away from the wreck 011 a raft. We went- over the reef in search of water, but found none, and one of the party died 011 the reef. Wc had some dillicultv in building the raft, and the captain and the second mate both got drowned in assisting at the task. The captain died within 20 yards of where his wife was standing watching him. She had her four children, aged from one year to eight, alongside of her. We thought- we would be able to find enough water on the reef to savo the lives of those wo had left on the wreck,'' continued Mr Palmer. " There was another wreck 011 the reef, which we thought was a store ship. We boarded it, but found nothing to cat. and only about two gills of water. The carpenter and I drank that. We afterwards found a little more water, and although it was in a very bad slate we drank it. We then derided to build a punt, ami while we were working at this we lived on shellfish." The survivors were carried ashore at Sydney from (he Tofua, and. being tno weak even to sit- up. were in a cart 011 mattresses taken from the bunks of the steamer. The passengers aboard loudly chcercd tiie shipwrecked mariners as they were driven to the haven at- the Scandinavian Home. They responded to the cheering by feebly waving the--!' bauds. FIRES. (Pes United Puf.ss Association.) CARTERTON, July 19. A nursing home was gutted by tiro last The cause of the outbreak is a mysiery. The building was insured for £200 and the furniture for £500 in the State oflice. The damage is estimated at ;<?2CO. Tito dwelling-house on Hnnlly Farm, near Outram, was burned-down yesterday morning at 2 o'clock. The furniture, clothing, and bedding, on which there was no insurance, were burned. Tluhouse belonged to the Rev. David liorrie. and was injured for £375 in the National oIlVc. , The four-loomed dwelling and two small shops in John street. Ralclulha. destroyed by fire at an early hour yesterday morning, and which belonged to .Mr j .lames Duthie. were insured as follow :— £200 on the buildings, and £S0 011 the j furniture, both in the Alliance oHice,