LASHED TO BRIDGE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21924, 8 April 1933, Page 7

LASHED TO BRIDGE

A DRAMATIC FAREWELL KINSEN MARU’S CAPTAIN. (From Our Own Correspondent.) SYDNEY, March 30. Terrifying experiences were related by i the 13 survivors of the Japanese tramp steamer Kinsen Maru, which foundered about 400 miles off the coast of Queensland on March 14, when they reached Corio Bay, Geelong, in the rescue steamer Hide Maru. Twenty-five men, including the master (Captain M. Yerabu), lost their lives in dramatic circumstances when the vessel sank, and the survivors were not rescued until after they had spent three terrible days in an open boat. Barge sharks encircled the boat as the men did their best to make their way to the Queensland coast. How -the captain remained on the bridge and went down with his ship was related by the second officer, T. Osata. “ I saw him lashed to the bridge by a rope,” he said. “He stood on the edge of the bridge and he waved to us as the vessel heeled over and sank.” > Apart from Osata, who is the senior surviving officer, none of the 13 men speak more than a few words of English. A graphic log describing the storm and the experiences of the men was written by Osata. It was on the morning of March 13 that the wind increased in force, and before long a heavy sea was running. Because it was plain that a storm was developing all members of the crew were set to work to prepare the ship for the heavy blow. By noon a fresh gale was blowing, and seas were very high. The ship began to labour. About 5 o’clock the boatswain was washed away from the saloon deck to No. 3 hatch, but luckily he caught hold of a winch and was saved. Soon afterwards large seas crashed on the poop deck and smashed the companion way to the firemen’s quarters. At that moment a huge wave came on board, and struck the chief officer, the third officer and the carpenter, who were severely injured. The chief officer had his right foot broken, and the third officer and the carpenter suffered severe blows on the head.

The ship continued to plunge in the violent sea, and water began to flood her. Before long there was 10 feet of water in the engine room. The crew worked with all their might, pumping out the water. All hands were ordered to make urgent repairs to the damaged portions of the ship. Suddenly the wind changed to the south-west. Every time

the ship struck the huge waves she shipped tremendous seas, which did much damage. About 10 o’clock a great quantity of water ran through the hatch into the boiler room. The ship was swung round by wind and waves which came from all directions. Although the crew were working the pumps at'full pressure, the water continued to increase in the engine room. Gradually the ship began to heel over, with heavy sens continually running over the decks. It was almost impossible to work in the engine room. About 8.30 o’clock the wireless operator sent out the S.O.S. signals. Immediately the Kinsen Marti was informed that the nearest ship was 180 miles away, and would not reach her for 20 hours. The log goes on: “ The crew tried to encourage each other. We did the best we could with waterproof sheeting, and we continued to pump out the water. The depth in the engine room was now about 15 feet, and the vessel was heeling over to an angle of about 15deg. All hands were then employed in preparing the lifeboats and in making rafts. When I went down to the engine room again

I discovered that the water was gaining rapidly, and I ordered the wireless operator to send out our last S.O.S. message. “ The first lifeboat that was lowered was smashed by the seas. It was impossible to get into it, as the ship heeled over to the port side, and every moment large seas broke on the deck. After midnight the ship heeled to about 50deg or OOdeg., and at 1.30 in the morning the ship turned suddenly over and sank. Before this happened I had brought the chief officer, who was injured, to a sampan on the deck. I was afraid it would upset. I went in search of a small raft. I secured the door and the table of an officer’s room, I returned to the side to see the sampan slide overboard. The quartermaster and I then hurried to the side of the ship with the raft. I scrambled down the side of the sloping hull to the water. Later the wireless operator joined me on the raft. “After we had been in the water for some time we saw a lifeboat and we began to swim towards it. The quartermaster was called away by the chief officer, who was clinging to another raft. The wireless operator reached the lifeboat alone. Eventually there were 13 men in the boat. Many pieces of wreckage with men clinging to them were scattered about, and the men were calling to one another. The captain remained on board until the last, and bade farewell with the whistle as the ship went down. To me the saddest thing happening was the death of the chief officer, whose right foot was broken, and who could not move freely. Gradually the i masts of the ship disappeared. I

“In the lifeboat we had no oars. Water was coining in quickly, and we had to begin bailing it out. Luckily there were three billies and a bucket. We had HO tins of canned food, a 101 b ham, and four gallons of water. We had not had a proper night’s sleep for 48 hours, and we continued to work in the lifeboat as it was necessary always to bail out the water. We were forced to work so hard that at times we thought that death was preferable. Our boat was drifting like a log, and we soon became wet to the skin and we trembled with the cold. Shivering we waited for the rescue ship, and when there was no sign of a boat for 24 hours I consulted the men and we decided to make for the coast of Australia.

"Four men were needed to steer and eight men to bail out the water, which was still coming overboard. One man attended to the wants of the others. We worked for one hour and then rested for three hours. The night passed, and I began to feel more uneasy. At dawn we, prayed to God to help us. We had some more food.. Suddenly there was a cry of “ Ship comes,” , Everybody cried with joy. First we saw a mast and then the whole of the ship appeared. The men were beside themselves with joy, but, alas, what happened? Three or four miles away the ship turned to the right. At first we thought she had discovered some other wreckage and had stopped to pick it up, but she continued her voyage without seeing us.” It was on March 16 that the men were picked up by the Hide Maru. The men were forced to jump into the water and seize the lifebelts that were thrown to them, as it was impossible for any vessel to approach them owing to the rough sea. The lifeboat had to be abandoned because it was too heavy to be taken aboard the rescue vessel.