FOUR NIGHTS IN A WRECK

Waikato Times, Volume 101, Issue 16896, 9 September 1926, Page 5

FOUR NIGHTS IN A WRECK

BRAVE RESCUE BY JAPANESE. The gallant work of a Japanese destroyer, a cruiser, and two steamships in attempting to rescue the crew of the Ellerman liner City of Naples (5,UP.) tons) whiclf struck a hidden rork and broke in two during a storm in the Pacific on June 15 last, is described in a letter written from Yokohama by Mr W. G. Ellison, ihe ship’s wireless operator, to his wife in Belle Vue-rond, Leeds. *

Mr Ellison says that after the ship broke in two , just behind the bridge, ttic whole of the crew thought the end bad come, but tho poop part, on which the men had assembled, remained wedged fast in Hie rocks. lie had sent out an 5.0.5., and they had to wait through the night. He continues.

Nothing showed up till evening, when two Japanese ships, Chefoo Mn.ru and Iro, came up, but were unable to help us in the raging sea. Ghee.foo Marti signalled us lo wait until morning. What a night of sheer terror for us all .... Daylight once more revived our hopes and Chefoo Maru began lo try to do something for us. Dangerous Seas. Then she lowered a boat, but the sea was still too rough for it to live, and ul 10 d’clock the Japanese destroyer Urakazc came along, but she was too bulky for rescue work in those dangerous seas. She therefore left it to the Chefoo Maru lo carry on, which that gallant ship did by every device in her power, but the sea was still too high. Towards evening—-the third of our terrible, ordeal—Chefoo Maru sent, us a Morse message by siren to say that she must depart, and wishing us good luck. AYe were naturally downhearted at Irsing our best friend, but we lined up al the rail and gaie tier captain a big cheer, lie had failed to rescue, us. tint his seamanship and daring were magnificent. AYe had thus In sit. down fur one rnnre night on our litlle poop. The next day Ihe destroyer Urakaze came up at full speed, followed by the cruiser Kasuga. The destroyer soon had one of her lifeboats out, and by means of n wire sling 27 men were lowered into the destroyer's boats. Then came the cruiser Kasuga and all the men were later transferred aboard her.