Sensational Incident at Sea.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7843, 8 June 1905, Page 3

Sensational Incident at Sea.

A GALLANT RESCUE. The London correspondent of the Sew Zealand Herald, writing on April 28 says.—As a rule the passages of the direct linors between New Zt-'a-land and the Mother Country areas ktaiet and uneventual as a walk down t£e street. Occasionally, however,, the calm tenor of their way is diver- *" Bitted by an incident of more or less senpkntion, and this? was the 'fase as regards the latest Homeward .voyage i>y the s.s Bimutaka, which was brought into Plymouth by her deservedly popular commander, Captain Greenstreet, the day before yesterday, from WeUhfeton. It apppars that at eleven o>'clock on Stindav week, the 16th, -while the si£p was on her northerly courso near the Cape de Verde Islands, pne of the passengers, Mrs Weeks, . who jives in London, who was returning thither, suddenly climbed on to the rail oS the port side of the ship and sprang straight into the sea, which is known to.be always infested with sharks in that neighbourhood. For a moment her fate appeared toibe sealed as the vessel was proceeding at a npfcl rate, some 11 or 12 knots at the time, and so had gone a' consldtralble distance facforc her progress cuuki be arrested, aMJuragli her en* gfnesl .were stopped.and then reversed, with all possiibic celerity. Fortunately, one of the stewards, a

yopng Irishman named I'earce, aged 25, happened to be close by • when ■the unfortunate woman made her desperate leap. 'He instantly jumped after her, without waiting to remove) Buy of bis garments, calling at the same time to the men near at hand to throw over a Ufe-buoy« Mis J?as| immediately done, but i J earcc was hampered by the water churned up Ijy the screw, and it was some time teflonl lie could struggle clear of this and secure the woman. He succeeded at lost, however, in getting hold of her and attaching her to the lifiHtnioy. Alt this time the Himutaka. won forgjtng. ahead, and before she could.be lirotfjgfct to the spot, both the steward and MnJ Weeks haii k been left far behind. In fact, both had didappdfeired, and in view of the number of 'sharks that are always about, the gravest fealrs were felt for their safety. Boats were lowered with *he utmost promptitude, and on active search was ilfegun, but nothing could bo seen. At last came a joyous shout from ono of the watchers wj tho stealer's rijgjfng. " There they are, on the port side ! " Tho boat pulled quickly* to the place indicated and picked' up both, all safe, flut the gallant Pcaree had (been in the water nearly half-an-hour, swimming with one hand, and with tho other guiding the hife-buoy, to which tho woman was attached. He kept up until he was hauled on board, amid the enthusiastic cheers of the passengers an«f crew, and then he lost oonsciousness, and it was a full hour Jjefore he revived. On recovering his senses he said that his heart sank" within him as Ke saw the steamer gradually getting farther and farther away from him, until at length' hif Could at times only see her funnel. We knew lhat sharks were sure to Ik about, and the fear of thesa Wnnd thirsty monsters preyed oil his mind and almost made him lose his ■nerve, as every moment he was in <Jread- of being seized by one of them.

A sum of £57 was at OlK':' subscriber! for Mm by the passengers, and was presenteii to him by Captain Greenstreei, with an appropril ate address. Tlie stewards of tlx: vessel also subscribed for „ goldi Watch, which, havinp boon procured and suitably inscribed, will also bo presented to him in due course in recognition of his gallant Mtk M !S strtd that the womar\. who risked not only her own life but also that? •of the brave fellow, has sh'own Signs trf mental aberration. She is nwlerstood to have beeu placed uuillt proper carat