GRIM FIGHT FOR LIFE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22833, 18 March 1936, Page 10

GRIM FIGHT FOR LIFE

SAILOR’S TERRIBLE END TRAPPED IN CLIFF CREVICE. Behind the recent discovery of a man’s body on a narrow ledge 30ft from the top of a towering Pembrokeshire cliff, with one hand still clutching the rock, lies a story of human agony and courage unrivalled even in the grim annals of the sea. The dead man was identified as William Harvey, aged 30. deck hand, of Halcsworth, Suffolk, a member of the crew of the Lowestoft drifter, Shore Breeze, which was smashed to pieces on the rocks at St. Ann's Hoad in a gale, with the loss of 10 lives. When the illfated vessel was wrecked the young seaman—stronger or more fortunate than his shipmates—evidently took a 1000 to 1 chance and fought bis way to shore through all the fury of the sea. There, with towering waves lashing the rocks, ho would be in as bad a plight as over, so bo started to crawl up the cliff. Bleeding from a score of wounds, bis boots torn off. his strength fast ebbing away, he still went up, drawing nearer and nearer to safety. But death was not, to be cheated. Sixty feet up an overhanging rock barred further progress, and with his strength gone he crouched down on a ledge to await the end. he died he is believed to have written a pencilled message: “ Help! Am starving in cave,” .which was found in a bottle about four miles away on the day after the gale. At the inquest at Dale, Pembrokeshire, a diamalic story was told by Police Constable M'Taggart. who described- how bo was lowered down (be cliff and then ascended the rocks to (be ledge, 60ft above. Harvey was in a sitting position, and was unclothed from the waist downwards, except for one sock. Dr B. Evans, of Milford Haven, explained that Harvey had been only slightly injured. His fingers were lacerated and his legs from (be knees down were ent. Death was due to exposure. William Gilpin head lighthouse keeper at St. Ann’s, stated that on January 5 he saw white mast headlights and starboard lights heading towards the cliffs about two miles away. The boat which showed (hem was apparently disabled. Patrick MTulyre, coastguard officer at St. Ann’s, told bow bo searched the cliffs from Gobbler’s Halls to the Vomit, where the Shore Breeze was found smashed to matchwood. “The wind was tremendous.” lie added, "and I could not stand on the cliffs. I went back and forth tlie whole length on my bands nod knees and used a searchlight, but failed to find anything.” Tbc verdict was “ Death from exposure.”