PERILS OF THE SEA.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9070, 10 February 1908, Page 5

PERILS OF THE SEA.

Press Association —Copyright. Received Feb. 12th, 1.10 a.m. Perth, Last Night. The rescue expedition which went out to the Windsor has returned to G eraldton. The captain, chief officer and chief engineer of the Windsor were drowned ; all the rest were saved. The vessel has broken up. The rescue vessels failed to get lines to the steamer, which was fast breaking up. . Three apprentices, a seaman, and 14 Chinese who were, still on the boat, seeing the vessel could not last much longer, lashed themselves to plauks and threw themselves into the sea. They were washed on to a reef from where the rescuers got them safely ashore. Captain Walters and the chief officer, Jones, ■ were drowned on Tuesday night after the wreck. A boat containing two rescuers was blown out to sea while putting off to the wreck and has not yet been found. A steamer is out searching for it. An apprentice states he was four days on the wreck without water. Received February 10, 9.36 aim. Perth, February 10. The Windsor has completely disappeared. Most of the boats passed away after the first contingent of the crew landed.

Nicholson, an apprentice who was the last to leave the shixi, says as they had no further boats it was impossible to gain the reef. Captain Walters gave orders to endeavour to float the Hues attached to the gratings ashore in order to establish communication with those on the reef and also fired rockets attached to signal Halyards, bat all of these fell short. The Chief Engineer made attempts to swim ‘ashore with a line and after desperate efforts he succeeded in gaining a footing on the reef, hut was so exhausted with the efforts that he was carried away by the back wash. He was then carried out to sea and drowned in the view of all hands. Shortly afterwards the funnel fell by the board and it was seen that the vessels back was broken. By this time tremendous seas were thundering over the decks and all hands were climbing on tq the lines on the bridge. At about four in the afternoon the mainmast went by the board, and was washed ashore . All this time the second and third officer's remained on the reef, but were powerless to render assistance and at sunset the latter left for the island. Captain Walters and the mate and the remainder of the saloon, but the rest of the crew and apprentices stayed forward. Upon coming on deck the following morning we found all the after parts of the vessel up to the foremast broken up, and washed on to the reef, the captain and mate being lost. Next morning the party searched the shore for bodies but without result. We took refuge in *one of the deck houses and again endeavoured to float lines ashore. The rescue party also attempted to reach us with rockets. A couple of them fell over the ship, but the lines broke. The Chinese with us appeared to become paralysed with fear and exposure. All this time we kept the boys tolling the bell to attract attention. When we saw the rescue party leave at sunset we gave up all hope and remained all night huddled in the forecastle. Next morning the Chinese took their pigtails down and prayed to tneir Joss for the wind and sea to subside. They then turned into their bunks and commenced wailing for about an diour. After that the Chinese cook attempted to commit suicide with a chopper. Up to this time we had bean without water and the two Chinese commenced drinking salt water, the sea sweeping completely over the vessel which was rapidly breaking up, the forecastle being gutted. In. the afternoon the Chinese trimmer lashed himself to a plank and jumped into the surf saying that he might as well die that way as remain ou’the ship. The surf carried him in and after being carried out again for some distance the seas carried ghim to the reef, where he was rescued. All the others followed his example and were washed ashore in an exhausted condition. The rescuing party were up to their armpits in the surging water, i We remained on the reef all night and were taken to the island next morning. Melbourne, February 10. Arrived: The Seattle from San Francisco in distress and leaky.