A STIRRING INCIDENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 24 August 1907, Page 3

A STIRRING INCIDENT.

Captain Beattie, of the barque Inverinark, now lying at Dunedin wharf, relates (says the Press) a stirring incident that occurred on Bhipboard, and which very clearly emphasises the vaiue of a knowledge of the first aid to the injured. Referring to the destructive force of waves breaking on board a vessel, Captain Beattie recalled an experience which befel him a few years agij whilst in command of the ship Inverlochie, bound from Australia to England with a cargo of wheat. When abreast of Cape Horn the vessel was beset with tempestuous weather, during which a very high sea was running. Without warning a huge green sea broke over the after part of the ship, burying everything in a devastating smother which swept away everything in the way of fittings, etc. When the vessel shook herself free of the incubus, it was found tha? nothing remained of the steering wheel but the brass boas of the hub, whilst the two men at the wheel were washed along the deck away forward, where one man was found to be seriously injured. The poop companion ladder and skylight were wrenched away and smashed to pieces, and a boat was washed out of its chocks, to say nothing of minor damages. The officers' quarters were flooded, likewise the sail locker, but, strange to say, not a sack of wheat was damaged. One of the men sustained terrible injuries. One of his legs was found to be and half-a-dozen ribs were also broken, In addition to which the usfortunate seaman was bruised literally from head to foot. The injured man was carried below, where Captain Beattie set the broken limbs and bin all the skilled attention at his commaut The sufferer made such good progress that he was able to be sent a»bore to the hospital at Queenstown, where the house surgeon remarked that the 'imbg har> been so carefully Bet that t6ey had knit very well indeed. After a few weeks in hospital the man was discharged, having been completely restored to health.