MINE SWEEPERS.
THRILLING EXPERIENCE ; "All /East Coast skipper, who, for months past lias been engaged in the dangerous work of mine sweeping, tells a story of a remarkable escape which his vessel and crew had from uttei destruction from one of these terrible engines of modern warfare," states the London Daily News of February 8. Setting sail from a port, he says: "Two days later wo reached the. minefield which had been sown in that region. We had not been there five minutes before wc found a mine and disposed of it. Each day our work progressed, and we found more and more, and then the following remarkable incident occurred. While still sweeping I thought there must be something wrong with my sweeping gear, so I decided to haul i-lie sweep in. We were getting the 'kite' up when I saw another mine lying right on top of the 'kite,' where it had become entangled in the gear. It was a mine, too, and I shouted to the men to stop the winch, but before I could do rnything to prevent it the mine got jammed between the 'kite' and the ship's side. "A tremendous explosion followed immediately, but luckily the mine was still practically below water. A tremendous column of water rose to a height of 150 ft, and great chunks of the steel mine flew all ways, but 110 one was struck or hurt. A jagged portion, weighing 101b, came flying through the windows of the wheel-house, and after missing me oy a few inches fell on the floor near my feet. Save for some minor injuries from the shattered glass I was unhurt. The greatest excitement was caused by the immense column of water, which simply collapsed on our deck, washing five of the crew overboard. "Fortunately, however, my partner's boat with whom I had been sweeping was able to pick the men up. Outwardly craft appeared undamaged, but tons of water had filled the engine-room, and practically the whole ship was filled. Thinking the ship was sinking, all the hands except myself and the sub-lieu-tenant hurriedly left in the small boat, which was undamaged. We proceeded to examine the vessel, and, satisfied there was 110 leakage at all, signalled to the crev. to return, which they did. We were then taken in tow, and reached port next day." 1
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Taranaki Daily News, 24 April 1916, Page 8
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393MINE SWEEPERS. Taranaki Daily News, 24 April 1916, Page 8
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