LIFEBOAT CARRIED INTO A WHIRLPOOL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 191, 8 May 1919, Page 6

LIFEBOAT CARRIED INTO A WHIRLPOOL

DEAL MEN'S ADVENTURE AT WRECK ON GOODWINS. Deal lifeboatmen had one of the most thrilling experiences in their long record recently, when they rescued some thirty men from the American steamer Piave, which had stranded on the Goodwin Sands. Later they were carried into a whirlpool, in which they were swung round between thiry and forty times, and feared for u time it was al'l over with •them. The Piave, which had a crew of over 90 men, including 17 officers, grounded during heavy weather. About six o'clock in the evening startling cracks were heard by the ■ sailors, and the hull suddenly broke in two with a violent crash. The crew attempted to get into the lifeboat and a tuf-boat which were standing by. Two of the Piave's own boats were got out on the lee side, but the gear jammed, and the men iu them were thrown into the surf. The lifeboatmen managed to rescue over 30 sailors, whilo others are believed to have been picked up by patrol and tug boats. It was on the return trip that the Deal men were swept into the whirlpool. By the skilful handling of their craft thoy eventually succeeded in getting out of the broken water near the sands. They describe this adventure as beating all records.