A TERRIBLE TYPHOON.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 464, 1 July 1909, Page 4

A TERRIBLE TYPHOON.

FIVE MEN SUFFOCATED BY ESCAPING ! NAPTHA.

GALLANT ATTEMPTS AT RESCUE.

Port Darwin, June 28

Eastern files contain details of .a calamity aboard , the American naval collier Nansbau, 'which arrived at Hongkong on the 15th inst. from Cavite, Philippine Islands.

While on the voyage she .met ar typhoon, and shipped several huge seas, which stove in the forward bulkhead. The water penetrated to the paint room, where the stores got adrift. The escaping naptha caused foul gases. After the gale, the chief officer, Mr Larkin, and another officer, Mr Rapp, with some members of the Filippino crew went below to put things right. Subsequently Captain Carver, missing the officers, went in search of them. A couple of hours later, the boatswain came up covered with a sticky mixture. He was almost suffocated.

When he recovered, he reported that the captain, the two officers, and several of the crew in the paint locker were suffocated. Mr Saundersor, the only officer left, headed a icscue parly. They could see the bodies awash, and black from a mixture -of tar and water.

• When the foul gases were somewhat clear ,-d, by means of a wind sheet, the Filippino quartermaster, De La Cruz, volunteered to go down. He was lowered, and secured one body. Although suffering Severely at each attempt, being almost overcome from the mixture of naptha and water, De La Cruz 'persisted in his heroic efforts, bringing up seven bodies, one by one.

Efforts at resuscitation were successful in the cases of Captain Carver and one Filipino, but Messrs Larkin and Rapp and three Filipinos were dead. Captain Carver was badly Injured.

Mr Satin Jersou brought the collier to Hongkong.