LOSS OF THE APARIMA.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16167, 22 March 1918, Page 7

LOSS OF THE APARIMA.

NARRATIVE BY CAPTAIN. 0 Further information regarding the loss of the Union Steam Ship Company's steamer Apariina, which was destroyed by an explosion in the English Channel in November last, was given on Monday to an Auckland "'Herald reporter bv Captain Gerald Dooriv, R.N.R., who was in command of the vessel at the time. The night, stated Captain Dooriy, was extremely dark, and the vessel was steaming along the English coast. That day a wireless warning had been received that two vessels had been sunk in the vicinity, and as thoy were in 20 fathoms of water only there was danger of striking the submerged wreckage. He had also been warned thai an enemy submarine had betii sig.ited that evening off the Frencn coast,- only 30 miles away. Anotner danger to contend with was a minefield right ahead of his course. The explosion occurred just after Captain Dooriv had been reckoning whotl.er he had gone far enough to piss the sunken vessels, haul out, 'ind clear the minefields ahead. Whether the Aparima struck a mine or was torpedoed, Captain Dooriy says, will nevnr be known. At first he thought the Aparima had struck the submerged wreckage, but in a minute lie felt ner stern sinking and her bow rising: In the hope of running her ashore, he ordered the helm to be put hard-a-nort. He soon realised that the endeavour was hopeless, as tho deck from tho stern to tho boat-deck was undo." water, and he therefore ordered ine crew to take to the boats. He had arranged with the wireless opcratois that in the event of accident they were to send out "S.O.S. Aparima," without consulting him, and he would then give them the ship's position. But they had only time to bend "S.O.S. Ap " when a sea washed tho wireless room away, taking tho second operator with it. He was never seen again. Captain Dooriy threw all the confidential papers overboard, and by thi-s time was the only ono on the sinking vessel. Climbing down to tho for-3 deck he cut tho painters of tho two boats which were fast to the steamer's gunwale.

CADET'S MIRACULOUS ESCAPE. Captain Doorl.v then jumped into the sea and swam away from the vessel, but had only gone a short distance when he saw the steamer's gig with 20 men on board. It was the smallest boat in the vessel and, being greatly overloaded, was nearly sinking. Nevertheless the crew hauled him aboard. After much trouble a eouplo of oars were used and in tho darkness they fortunately bumped into one of tho lifeboats with only three men on board. Tho survivors were divided between the two boats. In the meantime the steamer had sunk, and the boats pulled about in tho vicinity in tho hope of picking up more survivors, but the only one found was a Lascar, with a broken leg, clinging to some wreckage. <>ne of the cadets, E. Bevan, of Wellington, who with two others was in his quarters when the after part was blown away, had a miraculous escape. As Ihe water rushed into tho room ho was forced tip a ventilator 10ft high, and flung through the cowl en to a raft floating near. He lay there stunned for a while, and then remembered that the tank fitted to the raft contained signalling flare. By means of the flare ne attracted the attention of those in the boats,.and he was taken on board.

Other flares were lit by the crews ;n the boats in tho hope of attracting attention t but after a while they set sail and made for tho shore. They had not gone far before they saw reflected against the horizon a shape which they made out to be a submarine. The submarine, however, made off in the darkness. ONLY ONE BODY DISCOVERED. Soon after a small vessel was sighted and the boats mado for her. Sho proved to be a Norwegian steamer, on which t»hn castaways were taken, rtnd everything needed placed at their cisposal. The Norwegian captain attended to the Lascar, setting the broken limb as well as he could. The steamer took them to St. Helens. The force of the explosion and the rapidity wifc'.i which the steamer settled down may be gauged from tho fact that of 24 cadets who were in their quarters below the main deck aft only seven _ got out It is thought tie majority of the others were killed by the explosion itself. Five of the 12 cadets saved were on watch at ike tin'R. ')nlv one body was found, that of the chief steward, Mr J. Mackie. Captain Doorlv added that he found pome satisfaction in the knowledge tha" an enemy submarine was sunk Ihe next day not far from where the Aparima went down.