THE WRECK OF THE S.S. ODER. (By a Passenger.)

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 217, 27 August 1887, Page 7

THE WRECK OF THE S.S. ODER. (By a Passenger.)

The Novddeutscher Lloyd's s.s. Oder was the pioneer steamer of the German subsidized lino of mail-steamers to the East which was inaugurated about, a year ago. She was a fine boat of some 4,000 tons, originally built by Caircl and Company, Groenock, for the Atlantic trade, well found in every particular and fitted with electric light throughout. Our party from British North Borneo embarked on board of her at Singapore, and left that port on the evening of the 17th of May bound for Europe. The complement of the vessel was 115 men, all stalwart Englishmen, no Dascars ; and the first and second class pas-

sengors, — Engthh 5 Germans, Italians, Dutch , v and Japanese -numbered aboutf GO, including 17 women and children. We readied Colombo during the evening of the 23rd. and lofb tho following morning. On Sunday, the 29th, Captain Pfoiffor told us he hopod to sight Sokotra during the night or oarly morning, and that, as he reckoned a three-knot current was "setting" ua to the northward, ho had altered hia course and was making direct for the island. At about a quarter to four on Monday all hands were startled out of their slumbers by the horrible crunching rumbling sound which is never forgotten by anyone who has had the misfortune to be run on shore. There was scarcely any shock, though the vessel had gone on the reef at full speed and had thoroughly embedded herself in the vock from stem to stern, wo having only 1 8ft. of water under our stern where we had been previously drawing 22ft. The engines were soon pub hors de combat by the water, which rapidly rose in the vessel ; but we were fortunately able to keep the electric lioht going till sunrise, and there was no panic or disoi der ; the ladies and children especially displayed great coolness and self-control. On getting on deck we found that tho Oder was on a reef off the east end of tho island of Sokotra, marked on the Admiralty chait as " Rris R'drcssehJ* We were about two miles from the shore, with a reef on cither side of us ; the one on the starboard side being exposed even at high water, and on it the sea, lashed by tho monsoon, was " breaking " heavily. The vessel was lying almost due north and south, her stern being exposod to the full force of the huge wn\ es which constantly swept the quarter-deck ; but, thanks bo her having got ho well on the reef, she scarcely moved, and we wore encouraged by the rcporb that thore was no likelihood of hex* breaking up, for the present at least. Soon after daybreak the third officer, with four men, was sent off in a boat to see if a " landing " could be effected. They watched him till out of sight, and at about 9 a.m. he was soon trying to " beat '* back to the ship, but was unable to do so, and made for the island again. About 4.30 p.m. a man was observed swimming off to the ship, supported by a life-bolt. Life-buoys attached to a line were at once thrown into the sea for him, and as the poor fellow, almost exhausted after buffeting with the waves for neaily four hours, neared the ship, a plucky quartermaster, named Paul Ludwig, jumped overboard and took the buoys oft' to his comrade, and both men were hoisted on boaid amid hearty cheers from the passengers. After restoratives had been administered, the man stated that in the morning they had landed on a good sandy beach, and endeavoured to return to the Odor to rcporb ; bub found the weather too bad, and tiied to make for their first landing-place. The surf had so incieased hat it was impossible bo land, and as they wore "wearing-" the bout s>he capsized. One man who could nob swim clung to the keel, and has probably been carried out to sex? ; while the other three, who had omitted to pub on their life-belts, " struck out " for the shore and have not since been heai d of. The officer had a presentiment of his fate, and as he left tho ship exclaimed : " This means good-bye to^ my wife and family ; I shan't see them again." Although the natives of Sokotra are saioT to bo friendly, still there are no villages near the scene of tho catastrophe. The men, if thoy reached the shore, must have been exhausted by rowing and swimming ; and thoy had neither food nor water nor means of sheltering themselves from the tropical sun, there being no trees or vegetation on the island, so iar as could be seem from the ship : so that the chances of their being saved seem small. To return to the Oder— all praise is due to the officers, men, and stewards for the calmness and cheerfulness shown by them fiom first to last. At daybreak the boats were lowered, and those on the weatherside wore brought round to leeward in a. very seaman-like manner. One boat was "swamped," bub wad recovered and "pumped out." Another, one of the largest, was lost altogether ; the "after" falfcarry ing away as she was being "hoisted up " on the leeside, making, with that sent ashore, a loss of two of our boats. We were preparing to abandon the ship when. the joyful cry of "A steamer !" was heard. The steamer proved to be the Cyclops, 1,40$ tons, one of Messrs Holt's blue-funnel line, Captain Nish. Our guns were iired and rockets sent up, and the Cyclops bore down, on us, and all were taken on board, with the exception of the four poor men of the capsized boat ; and the Cyclops, which was bound for Colombo, burned round for Aden, the nearest port, having but little accommodation for 171 souls so unexpectedly placed on board her. One unfortunate lady, Mrs Fleischer, Ot passenger from China, was nob fated to reach the shoio. She had been ill on board the Oder and the shock of the wreck proved too much for her, and she expired on board the Cyclops about two hours after we dropped anchor ab Aden. It Avas a pitiful sight bo sco her bwo charming little daughters attending the funeral on the following morning and throwing earth on the coffin, apparently unconscious that they would never see their loving mother agaia in this world.