SHIP ON REEF

Evening Star, Issue 22462, 6 October 1936, Page 12

SHIP ON REEF

11 DEATH CAULDRON " DRAMA An ocean drama, which an eye-wit-ness described as an amazing display of courage, seamanship, and resource,” was described when the liner Nestor, of Liverpool, tied up in her home port. The story he told was the saying of a big Australian coaster from breaking up on a dangerous reef. Swept by tremendous seas during a gale, the two ships—the Nestor and the Mungana (3,300 tons) —fought against destruction on the fringe of the notorious “ Death Cauldron ” reef off the South Australian coast.” The Mungana, propeller shaft broken, drifted slowly to what would have been her doom. A score of helpless men lined her rails. The Nestor edged deliberately to the peril. Two of her crew challenged death in an open boat to reach the Mungana, but failed. The issue was in doubt until the last rocket possessed by either ship was fired. The passenger who told, the story was Mr J. B. T. Jaquet. “It was 6 o’clock on Sunday evening, June 21, when Captain J. J, Power, of the Nestor, received-the SOS which sent him hurrying to the rescue of the Mungana,” he said. THE LAST ROCKET. “ Desperate efforts were made to get a line on board the Mungana, but the shoals around_ made- a close approach for the big liner impossible. The Nestor started firing rockets from a great distance, but they all 'fell short. We approached as near as wo dared to fire the ship’s last rocket, and when this also dropped in the sea: our hearts seemed to drop with it. “ The Mungana was now perilously near the reef. A sister ship, the Orungal, came on the scene, and there was added excitement when she and the Nestor came, into collision, happily with only very slight damage. “ Soon we had all our boats ready to go to the rescue of the Mungana’* crew, whom we expected to see struggling in the sea almost any moment. “A boat then put off with a line, but the oarsmen could make no headway, and the little craft was washed against the Nestor’s side, breaking two rungs of our ladder. The bo’sun on climbing back on board did not know this, and missed his step. As he fell into the rough sea a seaman, named Pearson went after him and brought off a very clever rescue, it seemed to bo touch and go with both those men. “ When all hope seemed to have feme the Mungana fired her last rocket, o the joy of everyone and with, general cheers, it landed on the deck of the Nestor. It was only a matter of moments then before we had a towline aboard: then we took the Mungana back to Adelaide,” concluded Mr Jaquet.