A “JONAH.”

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21264, 19 February 1931, Page 10

A “JONAH.”

NEW ZEALAND STOWAWAY. WRECK OF THE ENTON. (From Our Own Correspondent.) SYDNEY, February 12. A gripping story of the wreck of the motor ship Enton, which struck the Amadu Reef, New Caledonia, was told by 30 members of the crew who reached Sydney this week. Gloomily, the men, who appeared to be none the worse for their experiences, attributed their bad luck and the wreck of their ship to the “ Jonah ” influences of a stowaway who embarked at Lyttelton, New Zealand, the ship’s last port of call before it was overtaken by disaster. On the morning of January 28 the Enton’s officers apparently were unable, in the inky blackness, to determine the position of their ship. Clouds obscured the stars. Suddenly an ear-splitting, grinding noise announced to the ship’s company that the vessel had run up on to a reef. Breakers immediately began to break over the vessel and settle her in a firm position. Unnoticed side currents, the crew stated, had swept the vessel off her course. Immediately the fate of the vessel became certain lifeboats were got ready in case of emergency. With his officers, Captain Smith made a survey of the position, which, at the time, was reassuring. No water had entered the holds, and everything appeared to be watertight. Several members of the crew were not so satisfied with the situation, and they took to the boats. Later, high, greedy seas pounded against the Enton, which swayed and lurched until finally it rested in but two feet of water. Even the lifeboats had to bo pushed out into deeper water to save them from damage. The wiroloss operator (Mr E. K. Bond) stood at his post for 62 hours, and he sent messages for help until the incoming water stopped his dynamo. * While taking care of a lifeboat, one seaman met with fatal injuries which caused him great agony. While on the deck of the Enton he placed his foot in a coil of rope which was holding a boat. A heavy sea caused the lifeboat to break away from the side of the ship, and, like a shake, the rope coiled round the seaman’s leg, severing it. The seaman shrieked for help. Suffering excruciating pain, he endeavoured to .draw himself away from the coil, but he was helpless. His leg was wrenched off just above the laiee There was nothing on board to case the sufferingos of the man except some brandy, and all day long the man, in a delirium, prayed and wept. He attempted to tear off the torturing tourniquet which had been rudely bound around the torn limb to stop the flow of blood. Before long he died, and he was given an impressive funeral at Noumea.