SPLENDID BRITISH CAPTAINS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 1407, 1 June 1916, Page 9

SPLENDID BRITISH CAPTAINS.

DEEDS OF GALLANTRY * AMID STORM AMD 'SHELL.

SULF-SURRENDER TO , SAVE MEN

After the- steamer Pollokshiekls left England heavy weather was encountered in the Atlantic. For seven days no observations -were possible, and, suddenly, hand was seen. Being light, the vessel would not answer her helm, so that presently she drove on shore. She had 'struck the Island of Bermuda. . Lifebelts were served out to the mustered crew, and the toll was called. Then Captain E. Booth, of the Imperial Service Guild, saw that one of his crew, a fireman, had a useless belt. To obtain another was a risky operation. But the captain gave his own belt to the man. Then he tried to get another foi* himself. A huge wave swept the deck, and he was never seen again. So "a very gallant gentleman" wont to his death. As a piece of heroism it is balanced ' by the gallantry of a shipmaster, whose' name and details, "owing to the war," cannot be given. The captain, a soldier, and a sailor were wounded by shells from an (memy submarine. They 'were the onty three left on board the '-attacked ship.* Having remained with the wounded sailor, the captain tried to get two small rafts over the side, and then found the wounded soldier. ' , ■ . • ■ When the rafts were got overboard the soldier was lowered first. Then followed the sailor, the captain coming last. One raft had : floated away,, and the 'gallant, captain, finding that the one left would not support three men swam, wounded in leg and shoulder as he was, to the then distant, second raft. Fortunately the three men were picked up by. the ship's boats later .^. . . . . .: