THE BURNT BARQUE

Otago Witness, Issue 3384, 22 January 1919, Page 53

THE BURNT BARQUE

A SUKVIVOR'S NARRATIVE.

A member of the crew who left tho burning ship Aryan in the second mate'» boat gave a New Zealand Times reporter an. accent of what happened. He said thai ho was below when the alarm was given at about i. 30 the morning of December 24—ship's time. When he cam© up on deck smoke was isbuing from the iron ventilator of the after-hold. The crew quickly got the ship's hose and buckets into actio 1, all hands doing their duty without the slightest confusion. The seriousness of the situation was obvious to everyone. Water v,as poured down the ventilator, and the after hatch was opened just sufficiently for the hose to be admitted. The crew worked like Trojans against almost hopeless odJs, for, judging by tho steady column of smoke that continued to issue' from the ventilator, the fire had * §ood hold from the outset. The cargo Of ax and tallow evidently proved good fuel, The decks became hot,, and began to burn through. Yet the crew stuok to their task for over nine hours. About 11 a,m. on Christmas Eve it was only too clear that - the fate of the vessel was sealed. The flames drove the men back, and it was no longer safe to stand about the decks, a* the masts threatened to come down. Flameo were spouting out of the decks aft, and smoke was issuing from almost the whole length of the ship. In a vessel such as the : Aryan the hold extends from forward to - aft, without any dividing bulkhead, and the flames, therefore, had ready access in snreading forward. . ' ' "The- smoke was coming out right for. ward, when all hands were ordered to tho ,; boats. Ample provisions and water, as re. quired by the Act, were in the boats, which , had been overhauled only recently and ex- | amined again after sailing from Wellington. The second mate's boat was first away, Ihe t after-part of the ship presented an awful spectacle, the flames shooting up high, lho second boat followed 10 minutes after tho second mate's boat, and the two waited together about 100yds off till the third boat (the captain's) came and joined them, lho weather was then fine, but there was • heavy easterly swell, with a light easterly breeze. . , ... , , • All three boats hoisted sail, and stood on a westward course abreast tor the Chatham*, with about 50 yards space between each. The men m each craft plied the oars and helped their progress conv siderably. At 4 p.m. on that day they were all together, and moving well, lho mate's boat, which is missing, was then keeping up well. A report that her mast snapped was without foundation. When darkness set in the mate's boat was not Bailing as fast ae the others, and had dropped astern. That was the last seen of her. On Christmas morning the cap. tain's boat was almost abreast of the second, mate's boat. There Was a fresh easterly breeze and moderate sea, with a sky that was alternately cloudy and clear. The two boats were then pushing along in fine stylo. The wind continued to freshen till about noon on Christmas Day, when it began to moderate. Observations were taken, and the boats kept on their course. . The weather remained favourable, though; during the night a littla rain wa» experienced. When morning broke on Boxing Day the weather was squally frorn the south, and there was a moderate sea. These conditions prevailed till 10 a.m. on that i day, when the weather improved and th<* / sky cleared. Fine conditions then la#ted f: till the two boats landed together in Kaln- ■ garoa harbour at 8.30 p.m. on Boxing Day. Assistance to land the boats was kmdly given by the local residents, who did everything in their power for the survivor*. Mr Mitchell took them to his residence and treated them royally. The Aryan was 300 miles eastward of the Chathams when abandoned by the crew, and the run to Kaingaroa, occupying about two days and eight hours, was a creditable performance. By the constant use of tho oars the progress of the lifeboats waa . greatly assisted. The" solicitude of Captain Larsen for tho safety of the others was freely commented upon by the survivors. During the run to the Chathams he rendered all the aid possible to the other two boats, and encouraged tho occupants. < It was stated by some of the men that the missing lifeboat (the mate's) was about the best in the ship. It was a new boat, about 28ft or 30ft in length, and had provisions and water enough to last for six weeks.