ALIVE IN A SUNKEN SHIP.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXII, Issue 8944, 9 October 1907, Page 4

ALIVE IN A SUNKEN SHIP.

A seaman had a narrow esscape on , a sunken ship in the Humber. The . Wilson liner Dynamo, bound with passengers and cargo for Antwerp, collided with the trawler Quail, the result being that the latter sank in shallow water in a few minutes. The captain, W. Lewis, and another man were drowned, others of the crew rushing on deck and being rescued by a boat from tbe Dynamo. After an effort to break into the cahin through the skylight the men concluded that all their comrades were drowned, and left the vesssel. But it was not so. Harry Willey, the mate, was still alive, imprisoned in the cabin, unable to get the door open. The water gradually rose until when standing on the table it was tip to his neck, and he had only a small space in which to breathe. He could not signal to his departing comrades, though he could feel the vibration of their blows on the iron St framework. He lost his footing j once, and had given up hope when j the water began to recede. After [ some time he made another effort to I free himself, and getting the cabin door open the water rushed out and - enabled him to reach the upper deck, from which, in an exhausted state, lie was rescued. “I had turned in about threequarters of an hour,” he told a London Daily Mail representative, ‘ ‘ when I was awakened by a violent concussion, which made the vessel tremble from end to end. Before I had scarcely time to realise what was happening I saw water rushing into the cabin from all sides. My comrades bad fled, and I tumbled out of my berth and made for the cabin door as quickly as my legs would carry me. The weight of the water, however, kept it closed, i pulled at it desperately, but could not move it, and in a very few moments tbe water had reached my waist and I got on the cabin table to see if there was any possibility of escaping from my prison by way of the skylight. The water still continued to come in from the sides of the ship aud to save myself from drowning I had to keep standing on the cabin table but even there I was compelled to stand as erect as possible on my toes, so as to keep the water from getting into my month my head was iu the skylight top, where I had only a chance oi a mouthful of air. Several of my mates, Ihiukiug perhaps some of us remained inside, tried to break the iron bars of the skylight, and though I could not signal to them through the thick glass, I could feci the vibration of every blow they struck, s Then their hammering ceased. They had given up, and either left the ship to save themselves or came to the conclusion that with the cabin full of water those that:remained were already drowned. It was a horrible moment when their hammering ceased and I was left there alone. I had nearly given up altogether, and once I slipped from ray foothold, but was fortunately borne up again to the surface, where I caught hold of the projecting ledge of the frame work. I held on to it for some time like grim death, wondering and watching for what was to happen next. I thought I should never see laud again. My heart sank within me, and I was beginning to despair when I noticed the water began to ebb. We bad apparently- sunk iu shallow water. Down aud down it went, and with every inch my hopes grow stronger. I was chilled to the bone, but I held on, and presently was again able to roach the cabin door. By degrees I pulled it inwards—one inch—thou two—then three —until it came open wide, aud the water rushing out carried me with it iu safety to the upper deck. The force of the water was so groat that my feet never once touched the steps of the companionway. The vessel was deserted, but I could see the Wilson liner near by, aud presently they saw me aud sent a boat to fetch mo, aud with my comrades, who had given mo up for lost, I was taken back to Hull. ’ ’ More than au hour elapsed during Willey’s exciting adventure. The cabin is as usual with all steam trawlers, in the middle Of the ship, with the bunks placed on either side, and it is lighted from above with an iron skylight, which proved Willey’s salvation. The Dynamo crashed into the Quail’s cabin on the ! starboard aide, and caused a great iarush of water, which eventually closed the door and bold Willey a prisoner.