The Horrors of the Sea

Feilding Star, Volume IX, Issue 104, 3 April 1888, Page 3

The Horrors of the Sea

A communication was received at North Shields from Constantinople, on. January" 19, from one of the. crew of the 'steamship Maud, belonging to Whitby, giving details of the loss of tbat vessel with twelve of her crew, in« eluding the captein. After leaving. Sulina the ship was struck by tremendous seas, which washed all the mot*. ble effects on the deck, and flooded the cab« ins. Tbe fires were extinguished, and the crew for the safety of the vessel had to cut away the masts. The steamer became unmanageable, and attempts were j made to launch tiie boats, but some of them were smashed. Eleven of the crew got into the lifeboat. Six others refused to leave. Shortly after the steamer gave a heavy plunge and foundered, the six men on board being drowned. The men in the lifeboat were on the sea for three days and nights withdht food or fresh water. Some of them suffered so much frem thirst tbey drank salt water. Four of the sufferers, including the first and second engineer, became demented in consequence, and died. Their bodies were thrown overboard to prevent the boat from sinking. At the end of the time mentioned tbe boat was sighted by the Greek barque Theodora, but a fifth man had died from exhaustion, just previously. The survivors were taken on board the Theodora, and landed at Con* stantinople, being severely frost-bitten.