TERRORS OF THE SEA.

Putaruru Press, Volume II, Issue 41, 31 July 1924, Page 3

TERRORS OF THE SEA.

j HELPLESS HULK’S PLIGHT. Lost for a Fortnight. Unlucky Thirteen Men. t On 2 of the most romantic stories of di2 bja ever told was pinfolded by the arrival, on March 23, of the obsolete and dismantled cruiser Sutlej, at Belfast Harbour for breaking’ up, after being’ lost for over a fortnight in the North Sea. Thirteen men, after much adventurous voyaging, and semi-starva-tion, sang “ Safe Home at Last,” as the vessel was berthed. The men looked a band of poorly-clad, gaunt spectres. For days they had nothing to eat but a slice of bread and a twoounce fish ball. They smoked tealeaves for tobacco and chewed odd pieces of coal from the bunkers to ease their thirst. Their living room in the old hulk, which was without fires or light, was the pantry, where the waves washed over their feet. For eighteen days not a man on board closed his eyes for more than an hour or two. Their night quarters were in the cabin, but these, too, were flooded, and they had to sleep on tables. HOW THE HULK WAS LOST. The Sutlej was being towed from Rosyth to Belfast when, during a gale in the Moray Firth, she parted from her tugs, and, without machinery or equipment, drifted about in the North Sea helpless. The vessel was completely dismantled, and when she reached Belfast practically nothing remained but the hull. Captain Ferris, of Aberdeen, was in command, and the crew included an engineer, a fireman, two watchmen and eight sailors, mostly from South Shields. They left Rosyfch on Ferbuary 26, in two of the tugs Joffre and Plover. Very heavy weather was encountered on the third morning, and the tow parted. The tugs stood by the Sutlej during the day, but at night severe snow squalls came on, and the tugs were obliged to make for shelter. DRIFT.’ INTO THE NORTH SEA. As the Sutlej had no engines she was quite helples, and drifted out into the North Sea until Saturday, March 1, when the crew dropped anchors. “ There was very thick weather practically the whole time, and we recognised that we had drifted considerably ,” said Captain Ferries. “We remained at anchor, and for several days did not observe any vessels passing. There was sufficient food on* board when we started on our voyage to last for seven days—sufficient, it was believed, to cover the journey to Belfast. It soon became obvious that we should have to curtail our allowance, and steps were taken accordingly so that our rations for several days were very scanty, indeed, FISH FROM A TRAWLER. “ Suddenly the weather improved splendidly, and for a week it was beautifully fine, but during the latter period we were at anchor strong gales blew and the sea was exceedingly heavy.” Life on board, said Captain Ferris, was exceedingly monotonous. We were like men on a desert island, constantly on the look-out in the hope of seeing a passing vessel.” At night the crew kindled fires on deck with wood which the crew broke off from different parts of the ship. “ Eventually,” Captain Ferris continued, “ a trawler was sighted and attracted by our signals. She bore down upon us. I explained our position, but it was impossible for them to give us any assistance to get the Sutlej to port, though they most willingly gave us a much needed' supply of food. We were exceedingly grate-' ful to them. The food consisted chiefly of fish, and for several days we lived on nothing else.” The destroyer Shamrock went alongside on March 13, and kindly gave the hungry mariners provisions, and. 1 also tobacco and cigarettes. The Shamrock tried to take the hulk in tow, but failed. Two of the Sutlej’s -crew had their hands badly lacerated in an effort to catch the hawser. Finally on March 1 the tug Homer had the ship under way, and five hours later the tugs Joffre and Plover turned up and: took possession of her, and brought her safely to Belfast Lough.

FIRST THOUGHT OF FRIENDS. Seaman Anderson gave a graphic description of his experiences. He said it would have seemed impossible that a big ship could remain so long unobserved in the North Sea. The main anxiety of the men on )>oancJ was not in regard to the weather, but for the uneasiness which was caused to their friends at home. During one of the gales a lifeboat was washed from the davits. The crew feared that the lifeboat would be picked up and their relatives,

learning of this, would conclude that they had been lost. Thomas Ferguson, of South Shields, stated that a German trawler bound from Iceland got into communication with the ship, and' told them their position. On the following Monday the trawler Craigringh came alongside and offered to take the Sutlej in tow, but it was realised that one small boat would not be equal to the. task.

“ was our worst day. We were reduced to one silce of bread and two fish cakes per man.” They had no compass on board, and could only tell which way the wind was blowing by occasional glimpses of the sun. Ferguson exhibited the following extract.from his diary:—

“ March 12: One meal, a little fish and a pot of tea. Nothing to eat all night. We are living in hopes of some good Samaritan coming along. We have hardly any oil left for the lights, and we are burning wood tonight to attract passing ships—but -3TOO[ 3xu sSurqx *ssud 03. SUI33S 3UO< aid to industry.