HELPLESS AT SEA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2913, 12 January 1910, Page 67

HELPLESS AT SEA.

THIRTY-SIX HOURS WITHOUT FOOD OR DRINK. On October 25 the liner Hestia, with 40 souls on board, vent ashore on the Old Proprietor Ledge, Grand Manan Island, New Brunswick, and out oi' that number only six—Third Officer S. G. Stewart (Glasgow), Second Engineer A. Morgan (Kin-cardine-on-Forth). and Able Seamen Joseph Smyth and B. Breen (Govan), G. M'Vicar (Dunoon), and J. M'Kenzie (Glasgow)— were saved. The survivors were brought to Glasgow by the Allan liner Hesperian. Third Officer Stewart gave a graphic account of the disaster to the Glasgow Record. He seemed much shaken by the terrible experiences he had undergone, and openly confessed that it was anything buft pleasant for him to dwell upon the details of the disaster. "I was off watch at the time we struck," he stated, "and was down below talking to the fourth engineer, when we wero made conscious that an accident had occurred by a sudden, alarming sheck, accompanied by the unmistakable tearing sound. "Of course, I realised something serious had happened, and rushed on deck. There was little or no excitement, and everything was done in the most calm and orderly manner. I never saw anything conducted with more coolness or more quietly. Orders were almost immediately given for the boats to be swung out, and when that was done, and when it became apparent that the ship was doomed, they were ordered to be lowered. " You have heard how two were launched successfully, and how the third, on reaching the water, was swamped. It was all very horrible. Nearly all the ship's lanterns had been smashed, and we were practically in darkness. We heard shouts for help. I coidd hear the voice of one little bo3', one of the twin brothers Galloway, who came from Kirkintilloch, calling on his mother. We did what we could, bub the darkness made things very difficult. Lines were thrown overboard, and ws shouted out to them to catch hold. "A few minutes after the swamping o£ the boat we rescued the second engineer and a seaman. This seaman, M'Vicar by. name, was nearly spent, and as he lay en the upper deck one of the immense w**es which were washing over our heads swept him along the deck, but luckily noi frito the water again. Our first watch wa kept on the bridge, and the ticie caTiys up and only left us a little corner, fourths having been entirely washed awaj by the waves. Had we been a little lowel down, therefore, I should not be talking to you now. "For thirty-six hours we hung on without food or drinlk, and then a fishing smack from Seal Cove hove in sight. We hoisted a blanket as a flag of distress, and I need not say with what thankfulness we found ourselves aboard the little craft. Lfc is the first experience of shipwreck I have had, and I can only say I shah* not easily forget what I have gone through."