LA BELLA WRECK.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1601, 14 November 1905, Page 3

LA BELLA WRECK.

THE CAPTAIN’S NARRATIVE.

THE HERO FERRIER.

By) telcgraoh, Prests Asa’n, Copyright , Melbourno, Nov. 18. Tho aaptain of the La Bolla was muoh braised. He told tho following story:— “ I was suffering from illness when off Warrnambool. This may havo oaußod mo to lose my beatings, bat I do not wish to say anything on that point. " When the La Bella struok sho hoolod over considerably to starboard. All hands scrambled on to tho forecastle, which was the highest position. The ship bumped continually throughout tho night. Soon after she struok wo attempted to firo a rocket, Tho apparatus for firing rockets

was right ait, and as tho seas broke over the aftoc part badly I had to return forward without effeotiog my purpose. “ The breakers oame over us all night, and all on board had a most awful oxporitil; enoe. Wo wero lsshod to tho railing on the port bow. Ropes wore passed round as, and wo then hold the ends in our hands so that wo could free ourselves if the ship Was submerged. “About 11 o’olook Johanan Johnson and Qont went into the forecastle for pro. Section, A few minutes later tho seas filled tho forecastle and washed them overhoard. “Wilson and Jaokm an, while hanging, died of exposure at midnight, bat the ropes kept their bodies in position until 2 a.m., I when they wero washed away. j “ The first mate had one of his legs broken by a piooo of falling timber. He hold on until shortly before the rescue, by whioh time ho was halt dead with pain and exposure. Eventually he gave up all effort to maintain life, and let go his bold and went overboard.

“ The boy Denham was too exhaust dc to move when the others ohanged to the starboard bow, and soon afterwards dis* appeared. "I could have swum ashore, but did not wish to leave the ship.” The captain and others on tho wreok paid high praise to Ferrier and the efforts at rescue. The La Bella encountered bad weather after leaving Bnrnie and was tty ice blown over the Straits eastwards. The survivors wore taken to an hotel, and reeeived medical assistance. Ail are much braised and exhausted. The captain is suffering from an injured ankle, which got jammed when iryiDg to secure the rocket apparatus. Filol Roe's explanation of the part taken by the lifeboat is that at half-past one they got near enough to tell those on the wreok that the seas prevented them coming nearer, but they would stand by till daylight. They heard singiag, and obnoluaed they were all right. “ The La Bella,” he said, “ is in a very nasty place.' It is all very well for the people on shore to talk. We did the best , we oould. Eight of the beat lifeboat men ‘ were away. We had to take inexperienced volunteers. Bovorifi oould not row, but . kept catching crabs, and oould Dot keep the stroke. Ferrier is one of tho lifeboat mod. I sent him with a diogy so we ' Could tie a rope to it and let it drift to the wreck. The idea was that tho survivors should gel into it and we would pull them to the lifeboat, but when he saw tho sea moderating Ferrier thought he oould do better work if he went on his own. We could not use the diogy earlier bceauso it was too rough. I went os near tho vessel as I felt justified, in doing, and thought it too risky to go closer. The crew thought so too. People don’t know what it was like out there. It is the duty of the pilot to show some concern for the safety of his tsea and not to take reokless risk.” The Governor-General and State GoveDor have sent telegrams marking their appreciation of Forsier’s heroism.