A. Terrible Story of the Sea.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 85, 17 January 1885, Page 4

A. Terrible Story of the Sea.

A terrible tale of the sea has reached Grimsbyi The smack General Wolseley, of that port, landed the only two survivors out of a crew of 15 of the Dutch herring lugger Maartje of Vlaardingen, on the 2Sth of Oct., 100 miles from Spurn. During a tremendous gale the lugger was struck by a sea that completely overturned her, imprisoning 11 men in the cabin, where seven of them were quickly drowned. The other four, after about ten minutes, when the vessel partially righted, got out of their prison, when they found the captain and three men who had been on deck were gone. The mast was broken, and the vessel was entirely under water excepting the stemhead, to which the four men clung all night. In the morning one of them was washed away. In the evening one man became delirious, and began to laugh and sing. One more night passed without help, but next day, when all were on the point of exhaustion, the General Wolseley came to their succour. Although a very high sea still ran, four of her crew volunteered to man the boat, and after great perils succeeded in getting two of the Dutchmen aboard, but the third, who had been delirious from the previous evening, said he wanted to go and tell his seven drowned mates below. He was prevented from throwing himself into the sea, but refused to get into the boat. The mate of the Grimsby smack went upon the wreck, and tiedi'ound the man's waist a rope, with which an attempt was made to draw him into the boat, but as he clung tenaciously to the wreck, the rope was let go for the purpose of trying other means. No sooner did fie find himself released than he laughed wildly, and, letting go his hold, sank beneath the waves.