FROZEN IN THE RIGGING.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13433, 27 March 1907, Page 3

FROZEN IN THE RIGGING.

TERRIBLE SCENES AT A WRECK OFF THE TEES.

In a blinding snowstorm and a fierce north-easterly gale, ihe London steamer Clavering was driven ashore recently at the mouth of the Tees. The shipwrecked men endured terrible privations. They managed to launch a boat, but it was swamped, and three lives were lost. Those who remained on board the vessel took to the rigging, where they remained all day long exposed to tbe bitter cold. The vessels showed signs of breaking up, and it was reported that 40 hands uore still unaccounted for. The chief and second officers, Pilot Harrison, of Middlesbrough, and 17 Lascars were in the boat that was launched. A high sea was running in it Inch it was hardly possible for any boat to live, and the small craft had scarcely loft the ship's side when she capsized. The chief officer and two of tlio Lascars were drowned, but the ohers wero rescued, and landed by the West Hartlepool lifeboat at Seaton Carew. They were scantily clad, and had suffered terribly from exposure. The captain and the rest of the crew, to number about 50 souls, had remained aboard, and as the lifeboat was unable to make another journey for some hours, people ashore began to fear that the unfortunate men would all perish. By this timo huge seas swept the vessel from stem to stern. Several of the crew took to the rigging, where they could be seen clinging for their lives. Others sought what shelter they could on deck, the hatches having been carried away, and water pouring down the hatchways, but the captain still stood on the bridge. The chief officer, whose body was recovered, was John Pinchin, of Clay, Norfolk. The second officer is Horman Bevan, of Upton Lane, Forestgate, London. The steamer Clavering, of 3228 tons, gross, belonged to the Clavering Steamship Company, Londpn, and was outward bound to Japan. The Melbourne Clothing Co. sells more women's and children's cashmere hosfl than all the rest of the looal store* combined. "Price I* pnir. There must l>« now* roaflpn for H« C'ftn'p you gnewsP