ENGLISH STEAMER LOST.

Waikato Times, Volume 113, Issue 18851, 23 January 1933, Page 7

ENGLISH STEAMER LOST.

ABANDONED AT SEA. 22 MEN RESCUED. A DRAMATIC STORY. United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright. NEW YORK, Jan. 2i. The American merchant reports that the English cargo steamer Exeter City was abandoned at sea in a sinking condition. The American Merchant saved the remainder of the crew, numbering 22 men, from the sinking steamer after the storm had battered her into a wreck. Another account says the Exeter City was disabled 650 miles due east of Newfoundland by one of the severest storms of the season. The rescue of the crew was effected after an allday struggle in mountainous seas lashed by a 70 miles an hour gale. A dramatic story of the rescue was told in terse radio messages from the American Merchants master, Captain Stedman, who already is the holder of medals for similar heroic performances. He said the Exeler City sent out an S.O.S. call at dawn after seas had carried away her bridge, sweeping to death Captain Legg, a resident of Bristol, England, and three other members of the crew.

The American Merchant was 15 miles away when she responded to the call. Captain Stedman found the raging seas too perilous to launch a lifeboat so he ordered the line-gun to he used. After several unsuccessful efforts a line was finally got aboard the Exeter City, which was settling down rapidly. At first the intention was to use a breeches-buoy but that idea had to be abandoned as being too dangerous. Then a lifeboat was sent out and after several hours’ manoeuvring the Exeter City’s survivors were hauled to safety. After the last man had been taken on board the American Merchant a huge wave destroyed the lifeboat.

The Exeter City was owned by the Bristol City Line “of Steamships, Limited. She was a steel screw steamer of 2929 tons gross register and was built in 1902 by J'. Redhead and Sons at South Shields. Iler port of registry was Bristol. _____