THREE MEN IN A SHIP

Hokitika Guardian, 13 April 1917, Page 4

THREE MEN IN A SHIP

Thrilling Sea Story London, Jan 81 An extraordinary tale of the sea was told to Sir Samuel Evaus in the Admiralty Court to day. Three seamen—the second mate, Robert Ferguson, and two firemen,

Thomas Welch and John Smith—of the ocean-going tug Vigilant, made a novel olaim to oalvage remuneration for salving their Bbip under the following circumstances : She was buffeted bo violently by westerly gales on a voyage from Now York to this country that the captain eventually sent out the “5.0.5.” signal* and -twodays later (on October 29th) decided to ataudon the vessel. Tae second mate, it waa stated, had made preparations for taking to the boats with the rest of the crew when, as a last desperate resort, he appealed Lr volunteers to stay with him and endeavour to make her weather the gale. The crew, sixteen in all, told him they were “not tired of life,” and only the two fir-emeu stood by him. Tha rest waut off to the HollandAmetika liner Rijndam, which hove in eight The three were left on board with as the captain said, ODly enough coal for twenty-four hours. As he went over the side with his papers he warned tha second mate he would never make port. If ho did, he added he deserved the ship and a gold medal as well. During their last day aboard the crew had gone about their work in lifebelts, The second mate took proceeding to the wheeihouse and the fireraen went to the engine and tbe fire. The weather grew worse. A particularly heavy sea jammed the steering gear, so that she port helm could gdt be used, aDd the cracking of the east-ing-head of the dynamo put the ship in total darkness. Approaching tbe Irish coaß‘, she missed a ie. f by fifty feet. The intrepid ihree made the Cardiff roads their dem.-n.uion, as the son was going down cu the evcuu g of November 9th, having spent a ieiinight in a craft h&lf-inli of water. Tbe legal pou'ion it. was urged by Mr Laing, K.G., for the silver.-, waa thtU from the moment tne crew decided uj absndou the veesel their contract of service with their employers, the Bay Steamship Company, ot America, waa at an end, and the claimants were not aervams of tha company but separate and uncotlnteied Sfilvors when they salved their own ship. Tbb Vigilant was wurih £20,000.

Sir Samuel Evans, delivering judgment, said the description given of the services so courageously and lineiy rendered by these naen had been truly presented. The courage and fine spirit and absence of physical fear displayed by these men one liked to think of as illustrative of the courage of the Brttish seaman on the waves. He hoped Fergusson and the other two would put their money in war savings, and to that end he directed that the money be paid into court within seven days.

He awarded salvage remuneration of £SOOO in all—£2soo to Fergusson, the leader, and £1250 each for the other two.