NORWICH CITY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17145, 30 December 1929, Page 5

NORWICH CITY

SURVIVORS REACH SYDNEY STORIES OF HARDSHIP ARABS ATTACKED BY SHARKS SYDNEY, Dee. 17. Remarkable stories of hardship and suffering were told by the survivors of tlie Norwich City on their arrival in Sydney yesterday by the Norwegian motor tanker, Lincoln Ellsworth. The party of 12 included Captain Hamer, the Chief Officer Mr. Thomas, the Chief Kngnieer Mr. Willis, the second Kngincer, Mr. Rowlands, the third officer Mr. Coldsclough, the wireless operator, the boatswain, three, apprentices, and two A.B.'s. Captain Hamer was reticent concerning tho circumstances of the wreck, but he did not hesitate to give a description of his personal experiences. After tho ship struck on a coral reef off Gardener Island, in the mid-Pacific, he said, he was superintending the launching of a boat, when a. sudden lurch of the steamer throw him off tho deck into the water from a. height of 40ft. He made an attempt to return to the ship, but was carried by the waves in the direction of the shore, which he reached in safely after much buffeting in the surf. The Norwich City took fire m the early hours of the morning, through the bursting of the oil tanks, which were pierced by rugged pieces of coral. The ship was a mass of flames in a very short time, and the decks became red hot. The crew was left with no alternative but to launch the remaining lifeboat and endeavor to reach the shore. The boat was successfully launched, but overturned by a huge wave. The entire crew was scattered in all directions, some being entrapped under the boat. SHARKS ABOUND According to Apprentice Stephenson, who declares that he has finished with the sea, the water was swarming with sharks, and he distinctly heard the scream's of several Arab firemen as they sank. Six of these men were drowned, and he had no doubt that, several of them had been attacked by the sharks, which were present in thousands. The survivors received a. seven; buffeting before they were thrown up on to the coral beach, cut and bruised. Later, the bodies of the chief steward, the carpenter, and Arab firemen were washed ashore,' and were buried by the party. Tho ship's dog, which had walked on board at Melbourne unannounced, and was discovered after the vessel left thai port, succeeded in reaching the island safely, and immediately began to chase gigantic crabs, on the beach. These creatures were about 2ft. in width, and according to Able-Seaman Walker, did not hesitate to attack both the dog and the crew. There were also thousands ol rats and all kinds of ants. The sea birds had apparently never seen human beings before, and were captured with ease, making no attempt to fly. "Olir chief difficulty," said Apprentice Stephenson, "was to find water. Wo discovered one small bole, but it very soon dried up, and 1 doubt whether we could have lived long had the rescue ships not arrived as they did It was a most desolate island, consisting chiefly of coral and sand, and although there was a, limited supply of coconuts and sea birds were easy to catch, we were glad to see the la-st ot it. DIFFICULT RESCUE WORK "Tho rescue," he continued, "vvas carried out under great difficulties five davs afterwards, and we have to thank the Samoan natives, who manned tho boat, that we were able to leave the island. The natives declared that had the boat overturned not a man would have escaped the sharks, which frequently bumped the bottom of the boat. 'We were taken off in small parties after many hours of hard and dangerous work. . . ~ "We came to the conclusion that the Arabs were drowned, because before leaving the ship they put on all their available clothing, some wearing two suits, and a. generous stock ol underclothing. The weight of this clothing must have carried them under when he hoat overturned, and probably the sharks did the rest." Another member of the crew, V\ • Willis said that, when a lifeboat from the Trongate managed to lire a rocket line to the island, it was thought that the men could have been drawn out through the. surf, but schools of sharks prevented rescue by this means. "The natives made a good landing through the breakers," he added, "but would not attempt to leave again from | tho reef, saying that wo must go to the other side of tho island where conditions would he better. Wo walked aerosß, tho natives pushing their surf boat through a lagoon which extended practically across Iho island. A doze... unsuccessful attempts were made to get ol that dav.' Once Hie boat was capsized, .„„, „„;,. H got through with three members oil the crew. The next day only one attempt; fail*4» and soon everv body was aboard the Trongate. i Mr. Willis paid a. tribute to the captain of tho wrecked vessel, who alter falling 40ft. into raging seas swam OJJ •yards to the shore, and then assisted many of the crew from the surf. The survhors lost all their belongings and bad to borrow clothes to come ashore in Sydney. They will receive outfits from the Seamen's Mission, ami will bo taken to England as passengers. The opinion was expressed by several of the survivors that tho entire crew would have been safe until the arrival of the rescue ships had not the. ship burst into flames. ,