CLUNG TO BOATS’ KEELS.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 13859, 19 December 1912, Page 7

CLUNG TO BOATS’ KEELS.

CREW’S FIGHT “OR LIFE. Flung into the sea from the Belfast steamer Tenet, which turned turtle in a squall in St. George’s Channel, the crow of twelve men had a terrible fight for life in the heavy seas, and six of their number were drowned. The ill-fated vessel was .of about 600 tons, and belonged to the Grainger line. She was on a voyage from Newport with a cargo bf coal for Londonderry. When the . ;half-dozen survivors were lauded at Belfast by the Cardiff steamer .Wheatshcaf they told a terrible story of their experiences. It appears that near midnight, when the open sea was reached, a strong south-westerly wind was met, and this soon developed into a hurricane. Struck by a squall, the ship went corfpletely over and sank off the South Bishop Rock, in St. George’s Channel. When the steamer turned turtle the two small boats were flung clear into the water. Their keels served as a hold for the survivors until they were rescued by the Wheatsheaf, with the aid of life-lines. The canfain was on deck at the moment of the disaster. On reaching the water he managed to secure a piece of the wreckage in the form of a wooden lamp screen. He was a powerful swimmer, and when hailed by the chief engineer, replied in a confident voice, “I am all right.” A moment later ho disappeared. A fireman named Gregg was flung out of his berth when the steamer was struck. He was soon struggling in the water, bruised and exhausted. The first line thrown to him while clinging to the up-turned boat he missed. He caught the second, but fainted as he was being drawn into the steamer, and but for the fact that the rope was twisted round his arm lie must have been drowned. The other five men were below when the ship went down, and were, therefore, caught like rats in a trap, with no hope of rescue. Twelve years ago a vessel owned by the same firm was also lost in St. George’s Channel, all hands being drowned, and the captain being a brother of Captain Ferguson.