Captain's Ordeal on a Derelict.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 23 October 1914, Page 8

Captain's Ordeal on a Derelict.

ALONE AT THE WHEEL FOR

FOUR WHOLE DAYS

FIGHT AGAINST SLEEP

LIVED ON NINE BISCUITS AND

TWO BOTTLES OF STOUT,

How Captain Kite spent four terrible days alone On a little steamtug, the • Nana y in mid-ocean, was learnt on- the. arrival of the Nana in tow of the German steamer, E.Russ, at Falmouth. .The vessel and her captain had been given up as lost. -• When Captain Kite, arrived at Falmouth he could scarcely stand through lack- of sleep and food. In an interview he; s.aid':-r- ---" Since I started the voyage I have had a > great deal of trouble with my Grew. Several; left me at Dover, and I had to get fresh men. Then I put into Falimouth for some time, and eventually we made a start. When we got off the Lizard we fcrperienced rather heavy seas, and the little tug laboured a great deal. She would go over, fill with water, and gradually, free herself. "It was during one of these occasions that my crew must have got frightened, for in the early hours of the morning I told one of them to go aft, and wee'if there, was anything I-obfJtructjLng.the steering; gear, and in a few minutes I heard- some shouting, To my horror I saw the lifeboat about 200 yards away with all the crew in her., HAD TO REMAIN AT WHEEL. "I gave them no orders to launch the lifeboat, and imagine my feelings when I saw it drift away out of my sight. Of course, I was left all alone, and did n.ot know what to do, but in a short time I made up my mind that I would try to return to Falmouth.' There I was alone on a vessel, with no one to help me. "It was impossible for me to leave the- wheelhouse and ■ attend to the fires, for had I done so the Nana would have gone under. "I had. to keep her head to the wind, and in four and a half hours the engines stopped, as the fires had gone out. "It was enough to make a man go mad when a large steamer passed me without offering to help me. I ■ burnt all the distress signals I had, ■ arid hurt my hand in doing so. . During Sunday two -more steamers passed quite close to me, but they went on. ' • "On Sunday night I_burrrt blue lights, and a second' steamer, which must have .seen them, me. To my joy I saw another boat three miles off. I made sure she would see mo, but again my hopes were dashed to the ground. "My thoughts turning to the crew I did not think it possible that they could have lived through the weather. My 'greatest 'job was to keep the little tug's head to the wind, as, of course, I had no steam on. ' ' ' : ' CRAVING FOR SLEEP. "Moreover, I experienced the utmost difficulty in 'keeping awake. I dared not go to sleepy, but the want of it was beginning to tell on me, and every now and again there would come the . almost irresistible temptation to take some rest. Fortunately, ,1. was proof against it for the whole four days.

"I had no chance to get any food. All I had in four.days was nine dry biscuits. I could not go down to open anything, for I dared not leave the wheel. Fortunately, I happened to have two bottles of stout on board, and I quenched my thirst by taking- a-few sips at a time, but I was afraid to take more, for I knew it\ might send me to sleep., ,

"At night I had no lights, for the electric -light had given out, and my little craft was .in danger of being run down. Once or twice I gave up hope, and prepared to face the worst, but I thought of my wife at home, and I was encouraged to, think that someone would surely pick me-up. The desire to sleep was ,terrible, and -how I kept awake I cannot tell.

"I had some coal stored in the tug's forepart, and when there was a chance I ran1 to and fro the wheelhouse to them coal, and threw some overboard to lighten the Nana. I also tried to hoist a sail, but I was too exhausted. On Monday, shortly after one o'clock, I saw a large steamer on the horizon. "To my great joy she headed for me, and . soon she was alongside. She was the German steamer, E. Russ. I shouted that I was alone and wanted help, and two brave young Germans jumped from their steamer right on to my deck I could almost have hugged them for joy. They were two splendid felI lows, and they managed to get a hawser and connect it to the Nana. "When I offered a young German a present this morning, ' Captain Kite added, "he politely refused it. They are good chaps, and I owe my life to them. I am going ashore to have a long sleep," said the captain, as he stumbled along the deck through sheer exhaustion. "Good-bye, captain," shouted a young German officer. "Good-bye, my boy," replied Captain Kite. "I'll do as much for i you one day if you v\<ont it." I