EXCITING ESCAPE FROM THE SHIP.

Taihape Daily Times, 1 July 1918, Page 4

EXCITING ESCAPE FROM THE SHIP.

STEWARD’S STORY. j,Mr. Curtis, second steward of theWimmera, had a remarkable experience to relate. He was in bunk down aft when the explosion occurred. He was blown up into the deck-head, and shot clean through the partition of another cabin. He knocked his way back through the wreckage that was strewn about everywhere. He found: his way blocked by the companionway, which was in front of the cabin, door. It was so barricaded that Ms. only way to get clear was to smash, in the glass windows of the door and topull down the iron bars. All this, time water was rushing in, and he; was blinded by smoke. When he man? aged to scramble to the deck, water was pouring down the after-hatch, up the walls of which he had climbed* “When I did get to the deck,” hQ saidw “I was just in time to catch the last boat away. It was about 22 minuteS from the time the explosion took place’ until I was free and in comparative safety. The poor old Wimmera was. then sinking aft.” ' ’Another steward, who was standing by, spoke of the valour of the lad-‘ ies on board. "I never saw anything like it,” he declared “I tfibre would be terrible confusion, mut no, those women were like a lot of 'Nelsons.’ One who was in our boat stuclc

to the oars like af Briton lor 12 hours.” Jones, {artist, -with Hs wife. had a severe shaking. They, -were thrown from their sleeping berths, and rushed out in their night Getting to tjfe.deck, Mr. Soones said what surprised him more than:anything was the calmnwss of aii the people and crew. Mr. and Mrs, Jones wore with the party that got into No. 1 boat, which drifted, until a sail was hoisted, a change in the wind enabling the boat to land at Taemaro. Mrs. Jones is suffering somewhat from shock and privation, Messrs; J. R. Forsyth and K. McKenzie, stewards, were also for’ard. The hi latter said he was a member of the ;, party which went off in No. 6 boat, which was the only craft which cleared the wrecked vessel from the port side. The.-same steward referred to th heroic action cf quarter-master Benson, who was responsible for getting this particular boatload free. He undid all the ropes and swung about in the air from other ropes and prevented this rescue boat from crashing into the sinking vessel, and otherwise endangering his life. ‘'■"When we did get away,’ ’the informant added, “we heprd him calling, hut it was impossiblt for us to go back. I suppose the poor fellow went downjwith the ship.One of the saved stewards referrec to the conduct and courage of Steward Gallagher, whose father, also a steward, was among the saved. Gallagher went down to the quarters in water up to his waist to make sure that none of the men were left behind. MEN WHO SWAM. Mr. A. Paxton, the chief engineer, was one of the two men. who swam away from the doomed ship -before be. ing picked up. He was seen to coolly take off his coat and hoots, and walk down the side of the listed vessel into the water. He was found shortly afterwards and taken on board Hue of the boats.

A young fireman named J. Fanning, ■who was asleep for’ard when the explosion took place, tells a graphic story of the affair. “My first impression/ ’he said, “was that the ship had collided; head on, because after the shocks she began to shake from stem to stem. | I ran up to the boat deck „a.nd started taking off the covers of the boats.” “Captain Kell came along and helped, and we assisted two children and a couple of women into No 1 boat, which we lowered. I went to the port ; pide and helped to lower tw*o more dsats. Mr. Collier (second engineer! and Captain. Kell were near us. We started lowering the : boats right out from under the bridge. , 1 saw one boat get jammed up,, but . I Eaa no time to stop. I went round, to the starboard side and found all the boats were ■ away. That was the last I saw of the i,captain or of Mr. Collier. I think the captain, who was quite cool/ -went back to the bridge,”

“A moment or so later, while nn the starboard, I met a sailor named Mulvenna, A.B. I said: ‘Well, old chap, there is only one way left for you, and that is our only chance. We will have to swim/ He said he could not swim, I dived over, losing my clothing and lifebelt, I did not see Mulvenna again. INb. 3 boat picked me up, and also the chief engineer.