SAVED THE SHIP.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 March 1918, Page 7

SAVED THE SHIP.

SPLENDID STORY OF PLUCK. A story of the courage and' resourcefulness of British merchantmen vrr.c related in a London Court kst mouth .luring the hearing of a ease concerning the salvage of the sailing ship Ainsdale" The vessel, loaded with grain, w:\s toijedocd off the British coa-i 'we've months ago iluiing a gale on a rough night, the mow being given five minutes to leave. Th? men were subsequently rescued. The Ains.lale was supposed to have sunk, but the Glasgow steamer Basuto sighted her six days biter rolling ainl drifting to leeward." Despite the likelihood of her being a submarine dt'e-oy John Macdonahl, chief officer, ami.v. crow of bight, boarded the Ainsdale. The only living things on her were a ca*. a parrot and a monkey. The steering w',-ei-l hul been shot away, and the compass was broken.

A strong wind and heavy sea. precluded towing, so Macdonahl ami his eight men decided to navigate the vessel. They ringed a jury wheel and reached a Scotch port 1!) days after the vessel had been torpedoed.

After 11 days of incessant bad weather, during which the nine men did the work of 25 on the scantiest of rations, a tug picked ihem up and ende vorcd to take them in tow. A head gale anil heavy winds compelled the tug to abandon the task, and the Ainsdale drifted on, her sails having been torn t„ ribbons. On (he following day patrol boats went out and helped to erect new sails. The tug then completed the towage. The Court awarded .eixiSfi. Macdonald's share was £2(500, and the crew £BOO each, and the tug £2(ioo.