WONDERFUL RESCUES.

Kumara Times, Issue 794, 17 April 1879, Page 4

WONDERFUL RESCUES.

The ship Schiehallion, from Auckland, went ashore on the Isle of Wight in thick weather. There was a heavy ground sea running at the time, which lifted and bumped her on the shingle, but being a strong vessel she did not begin to go to pieces for an hour or more. After trying by shouts and other means to attract attention, Moore, the cook, a Scotchman, and a bold swimmer, jumped overboard with the life line, and made for the shore. He nearly lost his life, but struggled hard, and at last by a supreme effort and favored by a wave, reached shore. Those on deck bound the end of the life-line to the hawser and the shore end was made fast to a rock. The man ashore watched the wreck and went as far as he could into the surf and clutched (when they came within reach) those who dared to make their way hand over hand along it through the breakers. Many fought hard for dear life, Harley Storey, Mrs Storey’s eldest child, a brave little fellow scarcely 12 years old,' passed from the ship to the beach in this manner without the slightest assistance from those on shore, whose whole attention was concentrated upon the sailor they were rescuing and whom Harley Storey had to reach over and pass on the rope. Mrs Smith came along the rope in the same way, but was nearly drowned. The steward’s was a wonderful escape, he left his hold of the hawser and was whsaed under the stern of the ship, and then cast ashore by a big wave. Mr Butson, the second officer, a great favourite on board, who bad been already exhausted by his efforts to save women and children and by loss of blood (his thumb having been crushed off),-.was stunned against the side of the ship as he made for the land, and was carried out. Before this the wreck had began to break up, and the mainmast fell over the side as the others subsequently did to seaward. Had they fallen towards land many of those clinging to the port bulwarks would have been killed. To the after rail on the land side, were clinging, near together, the last three remaining to be saved. The one farthest forward was a woman, Mrs Storey, who refused to leave the ship before her children were safe. She was clad only in a linen night dress, and as the sea broke over her, there seemed no chance for her, her companion an old man was too much exhausted and benumbed even to fasten the life line round her waist. There was aloud report like that of an explosion and the poop-house split and went overboard. This was followed by a series of reports resembling those of the discharge of a pistol, as the iron jilates of the hull parted from one anpther. Then the ship parted in two amidships, and the fore and mizen masts went overboard. At this moment the wreck was lifted bodily up and hurled to starboard, as if it were about to turn over, and was sucked down apparently into the sea for a few seconds. It seemed as if all were over with the engulphed persons, but a great sea running to the shore, lifted the vessel back, and to the relief of all, three figures wore seen still holding fast to the rail At length, the second mate and the captain seized Mrs Storey and dragged her up the sloping slippery deck until she could grasp the port rail. As soon as the deck line was fastened she threw herself into the sea, and was pulled under the wave, but the line became jammed, and, although the earnest pullers clutched her, she was still under water. It was then proposed to cut the line, but just for the moment no knife was at hand, and the men then tore at the rope with their teeth scarcely knowing what they did. The line, being cut, Mrs Storey was lifted from the breakers and laid on the pebbles. The men took off their jackets and wrapped them about what appeared a lifeless form. After a few minutes the heart could be felt feebly pulsating, and two minutes later the artery in the wrist was throbbing. As soon as the reaction had fairly set in, she was carried up the cliff. The old man was next rescued, and last of all the captain came ashore in a life buoy cradle. He was the only one so saved, and became delirious after the reaction had set in.