WRECK OF THE WINDSOR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2813, 12 February 1908, Page 28

WRECK OF THE WINDSOR.

A TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE. CHIEF ENGINEER'S GALLANTRY. DISAPPEARANCE OF THE VESSEL. PERTH, February 6. The steamer Windsor, from Fremantle to Hongkong, -was wrecked on Sunday night on West Pelsart Island, one of the Abrolbos group. The veseel's bottom was smashed in. Six Europeans and 14 Chinese safely landed, but the chief engineer, Jenkins, was dashed on a reef and killed. The | remainder of the crew refused to leave ! the vessel, as it is safe there unless bad ■weather comes on. Assistance has been sent. February 9. The rescue expedition which was sent to the steamer Windsor, which was i wrecked on West Pelsart Island, one of ! the Abrothos group, on Sunday night, has Tetnrned to Geraldton. The captain, chief officer, and chief engineer were drowned, but all the rest were i saved. ! The vessel has broken up. The rescue vessels failed to get lines to the steamer, which was fast breaking up. Three apprentices and seamen and 14 Chinese were still on board. Seeing that the vessel could not last much longer, they lashed themselves to planks and threw themselves into the sea. They were washed on to a reef, where the rescuers got them safely ashore. Captain Walters and the chief officeT (Mr Jones) were drowned on. Tuesday night. A boat containing two or the rescuers was blown out to sea while putting off to the wreck, and has not yet been found. A steamer is searching for it. An apprentice states that the crew were four days on the wreck without water. February 10. The Windsor has completely disappeared. Most of the boats were washed away after the first 'contingent of the crew landed. Nicholson, the apprentice, who was the last to leave the thip, says : — "As we had no further boats it was impossible to gain the Teef. Captain Walters gave orders that an endeavour be made to float lines attached to the gratings ashore in order to establish communication with those on the reef. He also fired rockets attached to the signal halyards, but all of these fell short. " The chief engineer made an attempt to swim ashore with a ling. A|t«£ »

desperate struggle he succeeded in gaining a footing on the reef, but, being exhausted ■with his efforts, h« "was carried away by the backwash. He was then carried out to eea and drowned in view of all hands. "• Shortly afterwards the funnel fell by the board, and it was seen that the vessel's back was broken. By this time tremendous seas were thundering over the decks, and all hands vrero clinging to the lines on the bridge. \t about 4in the afternoon the mainmast went by the board and was washed ashore. " All thi£ time the second and third officers remained on the reef, but were powerless to render assistance, and at sunset the latter left for the island. " Captain Walters and the mate remained in the saloon, but the rest of the crew and the apprentices stayed forward. Upon coming on deck the following morning we found all the after part of the vessel up to the foremast broken up and washed on to the reef, the captain and the mate being lost. " The next morning a party searched the shore for bodies, but without result. We took refuge in one of the deckhouses, and again endeavoured to float the lines ashore. The rescue party also attempted to reach us with rockets. A couple of these fell over the ship, but the lines were broken. " The Chinese with us appeared to become paralysed with fear and exposure. All the time we kept the boys tolling bells to attract attention. When we 6aw the rescue party leave at sunset we gave up all hope, and remained huddled in the forecastle till next morning. "The Chinese took their pigtails down and prayed to their Joss for the winds to subside. They then turned into their bunks and commenced wailing. About an hour afterwards the Chinese cook attempted to commit suicide with a chopper. Up to this time we had been without water, and two of the Chinese commenced di inking salt water. " The sea was now sweeping completely over the vessel, which was rapidly breaking up, the forecastle being gutted. In the afternoon a Chinese trimmer lashed himself to a plank and jumped into the surf, saying he might as well die that way as remain on the ship. The surf carried him in, and after being carried out again for some distance- the seas carried him on to the reef, where he was rescued. All the others followed his example, and were washed ashore in an exhausted condition. "The rescuing party, who were np to their armpits in the surging water, remained on the reef all night. They were taken to the island in the morning." LONDON, February 6. The Windsor was insured for £20,000.