CREW’S ORDEAL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21647, 18 May 1932, Page 20

CREW’S ORDEAL

BARQUE DISMASTED IN STORM WONDERFUL SEAMANSHIP. (From Our Own Correspondent.) SYDNEY, May 12. The arrival of the Finnish barque Hougomont at Adelaide last Monday marked the end of a terrific struggle against a fierce storm for 18 days. During that time the barque, dismasted, had been at the mercy of wind apd current. The little vessel with its crew of 23 had been 129 days on a voyage from London — a voyage full of trials and dangers which commenced with a storm in the notorious Bay of Biscay. It was a bad start, but worse was to follow. The storm which disabled the barque broke over it at 1 a.m. on April 20, when it was 530 miles from Cape Borda. Four seamen were up aloft when the rigging commenced to crash to the deck, and their companions were horror-stricken as their mates struggled to a place of safety. It so happened that only one man was injured, and even in his ease the injury was not serious. How the men got out of the tangle in which they found themselves will for ever remain a mystery to those on board, and particularly to the chief actors in this grim sea drama. One mast, as it fell with a great roar, smashed a lifeboat as well as the wheel house. The storm was of indescribable fury and it seemed as though every minute would be the last. “This is the end,” was the poignant entry made in his diary by an apprentice, Robert Lee, an undergraduate of an American university, who had made the voyage-“for the fun of it.” He got more “fun” than he had bargained for. When he saw the four masts ppunding the side of the ship with blows'like those of a pile driver, he gave up all hope, and so did the others. It seemed to the crew that the hammering wreckage was seeking a weak spot where a hole could be battered arid the vessel sent to the bottom. Long before the storm was over only one lifeboat remained for the 25 men. The Hougomont lurched and shuddered as .the huge waves tossed her about, and the weight of the broken masts and the rigging made her heel over until it seemed certain that she must turn turtle. For 30 hours the crew fought for their lives, and the position became so hopeless that they “gave up praying—it seemed so useless.” But. after a wild struggle, they succeeded in heaving all the wreckage overboard. Then the storm ceased and as there was no wind whatever they drifted helplessly for four days. They sang the songs of Finland, Denmark, England, and Germany, They played the banjo and the violin. In the interludes the conversation invariably turned to the thoughts uppermost in their minds, the prospect of eypr seeing land again. Finally they rigged up sails of a sort, and as a result of magnificent seamanship the vessel was brought safely to port.