On the Sea

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 2, 4 January 1915, Page 5

On the Sea

LOSS OF THE FORMIDABLE. STORIES OF THE DISASTER. United Pkesh Association. , London, January 2. The trawler Providence picked up the Formidable's pinnace, with 68 men and two officers aboard. These were landed at Brixham, on the coast of Devonshire. The pinnace was leaking, and nearly full of water. Many of the men we're in night attire, and others wrapped in blankets. Several other fishing boats were in the vicinity. The Providence was running' for shelter in the height of a gale, with mountainous seas running, when she sighted the pinnace. The crew performed heroic work in taking off the survivors. Survivors report that two 'other boatloads left the Formidable. Navy writers suggest that the gale possibly caused to break from their anchors some of the mines laid to the eastward of Dover, causing them to drift down the Channel. They remind readers, whether the Formidable was mined or torpedoed, of the appositeness of Mr Churchill's words on 27th November regarding our ability to afford such a loss every month, and also the Admiralty's wisdom in carefully avoiding unnecessary risks with the battle squadron.

DIFFICULT WORK OF RESCUE. London, January 2. The Providence, at 9 o'clock on Friday morning, sighted the pinnace, flying a scarf from an oar as a signal of distress. With the utmost difficulty the trawler manoeuvred to windward, and after four attempts hauled the pinnace round the stern, and the sailors began to jump aboard am ills 'i great danger, the seas being 30 feet high. It took half an hour to got all aboard. The survivors state that they had the greatest difficulty in launching the boats. Theirs was stove in, but they stuffed the hole with their jumpers. All the oars were smashed in fending off the vessel. Some jumped from the decks and swam to the boat. One boat fell by the nose, first throwing her crew into the sea. When the pinnace got away the men were singing "Tipperary," but a heavy sea broke over the boat, and compelled them to save their breadth for continuous baling.

SURVIVORS NUMBER 201. London, January 3. Official: The latest list of the Formidable'* survivors gives the number as 201. A survivor states that after a great explosion the fires were drawn, and the men came on deck. The Formidable had a heavy list to starboard, and she sank in an hour. Had the ■weather been favourable, all could have been saved. Many plunged into the sea. and were picked up by the boats, but the darkness made rescue difficult. A number of trawlers misunderstood the signals, otherwise more would have been saved.

The Press Bureau publishes a list of thirty-nine officers drowned, including Captains John Deed and Arthur Loxlev. .Mid Commanders Charles Ballard, William Harrison, and Henry Street.

ARRIVAL OF THE CUTTER. DEATH pF NINE OF THE CREW AFTER LANDING. STOKER PARR'S GRAPHIC STORY (Received 9.0 a.m.) London, January 3. Some of the survivors readied Lyme Regis, a seaport of Dorset, in the Formidable's cutter after twentytwo hours. Originally there were about seventy aboard, but it is believed twenty perished. The others were almost exhausted, and nine died after landing.

The leading stoker Parr, relates: "I was asleep in my bunk and was awakened by a gigantic explosion at two o'clock on Friday morning. The crew rushed on deck half dressed. The orders given were obeyed like as we were on manoeuvres. Wliile the boats were being lowered, the boilers exploded, and it was impossible to lower the pinnaces without steam. We were able to lower only the sailing cutters. Parr states that his boat stood by for an hour, and two boats got away afterwards. These with the first boat were lost sight of in the heavy seas. The Formidable fired reckets. In the last sight they had of her, the crew left aboard were seen standing on the foredeck smoking and talking, all the officers being at their post. Heavy seas almost swamped the cutter, the rudder was swept away, while they were without a compass. Coats, caps, and sea boots were used for bailing. About five o'clock in the morning they unsuccessfully attempted to attract a passing liner. The men halfdressed felt the cold bitterly. The coxswain and several others died through exhaustion, and were dropped overboard, after the survivors sighted land, they rowed all day without food.

A STINKING EXPLOSIVE. ((Received 9.5 a.m.) London, January 3. The explosion occurred abaft the magazine. An unbearable strench irose from the explosive. The vessel, which is the last of her line of battleships, continued to sound her liooter while sinking and flashed signals until she foundered.