A TERRIBLE WRECK

Hokitika Guardian, 25 May 1921, Page 1

A TERRIBLE WRECK

(SHU COAST TRAGEDY

CAPTAIN EVANS’S GALLANTRY

The wreck of the steamer Hong-Moli at Lnmok Island, on March 3rd, in connexion with which Captain E, R. G. R. Evans, C.R., D. 5.0., of HALS Carlisle, greatly distinguished himself, is described by an Indian paper as probably lhe worst disaster that has ever occurred on the coast of China There were over 1000 Chinese passengers on board, of whom nearly 800 were believed to have been drowned.

The second officer said the llong-Moh struck the rocks at 7.30 in the evening of March 3rd, with a terrific crash, which extinguished all the lights. “There was a great scrunching of the ship on the rocks and a wild commotion among the crowd of terrified people on board, who were rushing about, shouting and shrieking.” Two steamers ivere signalled for assistance, but they passed out of sight. “At about 3 a.in. we felt a terrible grinding and crashing, which seemed to indicate that we were sliding off the rocks to sink in the deep water. When we struck the wind was rather fresh and there was a moderate lv rough sea running, but as the night wore on the wind increased and the sea became very rough. When the ship began to grind I realised that her back was breaking. Swarms of- people had crowded into the boats, which were on the part separated from us, and 1 heard about a hundred of them, in their panic, jumping over the side on to rocks alongside. Then started a long chorus of terrible groans and death cries. It lasted about an hour. I saw a boat which was swung out and full of people suddenly drop end on into the raging waters alongside between the ship and the rocks, and heard awful despairing cries as the people were perishing. Daylight came at last, and we saw the ship had broken in two at the fore part of the stokehold, exposing the furnaces, etc., and the water between the two parts of the ship was almost like the Niagara falls. From time to time some poor unfortunate creature would be whirled into it and with agonising cries for help as he was being mangled by being dashed against the broken and .twisted ironwork, would soon perish from exhaustion.”

About 1) o’clock in the morning the Shansi, a small steamer, sighted the wreck. She steamed close in and lowered a boat, which, however, could do noiliing in the heavy sea, and only reached the Shansi again after a great struggle. The Shansi stood by all that dav and throughout the night. At 2 p.m. the following day (March oth) she signalled the survivors to “jump for it.” The second oflicer said:—“We got the Hag signal a few minutes after 2 p.m. and we jumped in. The tide took us just clear of the rocks, and almost everyone except the captain and about four Chinese who had made the attempt with us was picked up. What.luck! It was impossible for the ship to launen any of her lifeboats in such a sea, but the men in the Shansi managed to catch us with lines thrown out. In connexion with the rescue work, two ships of the Royal Navy gave vain able help in saving lives. H.M. ships Carlisle and Foxglove were at sea, and on receiving wireless messages at once went to the scene of,the wreck, when the former ship picked up 201 Chinese and the Foxglove 28. Particularly gallant was the action of Captain Evans, of the cruiser Carlisle. He put off from his ship in a motor-boat with a cutter in tow. The north-east-cun monsoon was very strong at the time, and a vefy heavy sea was running. When the motor-boat got near the wreck, a number of exhausted survivors were observed to lie still on the unsubmerged part of the forecastle, and Captain Evans stripped and swam to the wreck with the life line and succeeded in taking off several survivors, leaving aboard only one man who was dead in the rigging. When at another time the propellers of the motor-boat fouled the wreckage, Captain Evans again stripped and entered the water to clear away the obstruction, assisted by- an able seaman. It is stated that Captain Evans was himself instrumental in saving 200 lives. The whole ship’s company of HALS. Foxglove rendered most valuable service.