SAVED FROM THE SEA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21932, 19 April 1933, Page 7

SAVED FROM THE SEA

A MIRACULOUS ESCAPE WRECK OF THE WATERI.ILY SURVIVOR’S NARRATIVE \ ' (Special to Daily Times.) AUCKLAND, April 18. The story'of a miraculous escape from a watery grave in the Pacific Ocean was brought to Auckland by Messrs John Harris and F. St. J. Parson, of Christ church, survivors of the wreck of the New Zealand ketch Waterlily, which was caught 'in a squall off the island of Vaitupu in the Ellice group early last month and was abandoned in a sinking condition. The crew of four, which included the master, Mr S. Gerard, ami an Ellice Islander, took to the yacht’s dinghy and reached the shore after a terrific struggle against mountainous seas. “ We were lucky to get out of it alive,’ - was the comment of the shipwrecked nien when they stepped ashore from the Danish motor ship Victoria on her arrival from Nauru Island, clad in a khaki shirt and shorts, which was ail they had saved from the wreck. They first visited the post office to acquaint their relatives of their safe return and then proceeded to acquire a new outfit of clothes. Other members of the original crew of nine, all of whom were old boys of Christ’s College, returned to New Zealand before the yacht met with disaster. “We left the island of Funafuti late in February for Vaitupu,” . said Mr Harris. “There were then only three of the crew left on board. /Die Ellice Islander with us was an elderly man who wished to reach Vaitupu and was of no use in an emergency. The trouble started when we were within 10 miles of Vai tupu. We struck a squall during the night, and in straining the rigging the screw worked its way out and so loosened the rigging. We tried to tighten things up but the port shrouds went completely, and then the mast began to wobble with great violence. . “In such an impasse we were, short handed. It was early in the morning and a heavy sea was running. Hail oui rigging was gone and we had an awful time trying to get the sails down ami the boom clear without smashing our small lifeboat which, should the worsi happen, was our only hope. The loosen ing of the mast was a Serious matter. It was a very heavy affair for so small a boat, and the whole craft shook as it wobbled with terriffie crashes from sid" to side. We had a herculean job trying to stay It, and then just when we got it steady enough to get the boom and sails clear over it went. “ The mast fell to windward and as we rocked in the heavy swell it kept crashing against the yacht. It took us a whole hour to cut it clear with hacksaws, and then we found we were taking in water fast. We tried to rig up a jury from the mizzen mast, but . without success.

“ The yacht was now helpless and, what was more disquieting, we ' found we were drifting away from the island in a powerful equatorial current at the rate of about two knots. It was then we decided to take to the boat and make for land. The seas were so high that it was impossible to get a sight f >f the shore, so we took a compass to steer by. We also put into the boat a kettle of fresh water, and some tinned beef. We abandoned the Waterlily about 10 a.ra. and we watched her drift away out of sight in a sinking condition. “I don’t think any of us will eyei forget that trip in the open boat. We had to contend with a strong adverse current, high seas, and a hot tropical sun. We had no clothes other than a shirt and shorts With which to protect our skins from the scorching sun. The kettle of water was quickly consumed, and we felt we should die of thirst. We had two oars and a steering par, ami we kept rowing in turns for six hours before we saw land.

“Getting through the reef was, a ticklish business, but we were used to that sort of thing after our experiences in the islands, and before long three or four native canoes came out to meet us. The natives evidently knew tnat we would be (suffering from thirst, for they had a plentiful supply of coconuts, which we broached with joy. I cannot say too much for the hospitality of those natives. We were treated with the utmost care and consideration during the month we were marooned on the island. They are very similar is vgards appearance, customs, and language to Maoris, and we quickly came to learn their speech. A small trading vessel finally took off Mr Parson and myself, calling at Funafuti, Bern Apemama, and Tarawa islands.in the Gilbert group before reaching Ocean Island, where we joined the. steamer.” Captain Gerard decided to remain on Vaitupu, He was keen to sample island life for a while. In a literal sense the rescued men owe their lives to a Government department. When the Waterlily lay at Wellington last year she was detained by the Marine Department, which refused to allow her to go to sea without a lifeboat.' A .IG-foot boat was eventually given to the crew by Mr H. E. Card, of, Eastbourne. That boat, named The Banker after the famous racehorse owned by the donor, which won the New Zealand Cup some v ara ago, saved the lives of the four mm. Messrs Harris and Parson consider that there is mo chance of the Waterlily remaining afloat. They say she had 10 tons of rock ballast on board, an auxiliary engine which was neve, used after leaving Auckland, weighing two tons, and the hull was leaking badly. They searched the horizon from the shore next day but could see no trace of the yacht.