A DISGRACE TO ENGLAND.
The opinion of a Guernsey judge on an English* captain who deserted his ; vessel when it was on fire and left some twenty passengers to their fate, will be endorsed by everyone who.reads or hears of the occurrence. It was about two months ago that the Why Not, a ketch belonging toBrixham, and under the command of William Walter Wilkinson, took fire when on her way to Guernsey with men and women harvesters. At first it appears that an attempt was made to subdue the fire without any panic or confusion, but while all were busily at work a bucket dropped overboard, and, the ship's boat being launched to recover it, the captain,, with the mate and two sailors who formed his crew, jumped into it, and left the passengers to their fate. Tho captain, the Judge said, was a disgrace to the British nation, and had dragged the British flag through the mire. Fortunately, the cowardly desertion of the captain and crow did not lead to sacrifice of life. Jean Bur-lot, a passenger whoknew nothing of seamanship, rushed to the helm of the burning vessel, and with the help of another passenger, whokept the look-out, contrived to strand the vessel on Erquy beach, where they were all soon rescued, just as they had begun to. give up all hopes of life and to make ready for a dreadful death. Burlot, a French subject, has been decorated by his Government for his bravery and promptitude, while Wilkinson has been sentenced to six months' hard labour, and the members of his crew to two months' imprisonment. The incident is a humiliating one, and may be useful in reminding people of '" Jingo " tendencies that all Englishmen are not sea-lions and all Frenchmen are not cowards on the sea. At the same time the act of Wilkinson and his craven crew is such an exceptional one in English maritime records,' that it may be held to prove the rule of the bravery and devotion to duty of the English seaman. It is rarely, indeed, that anything approaching the base conduct of Wilkinson and his crew has to be recorded. Their punishment is well deserved, .and inclines rather to the side of leniency than to that of severity.
A DISGRACE TO ENGLAND.
Star (Christchurch), Issue 5457, 8 January 1896, Page 2
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