On the Sea.

Taihape Daily Times, 7 March 1918, Page 6

On the Sea.

SAVED THE SHIP. SPLENDID STORY OP PLUCK. London, Feb 21. A story of the courage and resourcefulness of British merchantmen was related in a London court during the hearing of a case concerning the salvage of the sailing ship Ainsdale. The vessel, loaded with grain, was torpedoed off the British coast twelve months ago, during a gale on ~a rough night, the crew being given five minutes to leave. The men were - subsequently rescued. The Ainsdale was supposed to have sunk, but the Glasgow steamer Basuto sighted her six days later rolling and drifting to leeward. Despite the likelihood of her being a submarine decoy, John Macdonald, cheif officer, and a crew of eight boarded the Ainsdale. The only lyiving things on her were the cat, a parrot, and a monkey. The steering wheel had been shot away, and the compass was broken.

A strong wind and heavy set precluded towing, so Macdonald and his eight men decided to navigate the vessel. They rigged a jury wheel and reached a Scottish port nineteen days after the vessel had been torpedoed. After eleven days of incessanf bad weather, during which" the nine men did the work of twenty-five on the scantiest of rations, a tug picked them up and endeavoured to take them in tow. A head gale and heavy winds compelled the tug to abandon the task, and the Ainsdale drifted on, her sails having been torn to ribbons. On the following day patrol boats went out and helped to set hew sails. The tug then completed towage. The’ court awarded £9650, Macdonald’s share being £2600, the crew £BOO each, and the tug £2600.