THE H. B. STERLING.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 January 1922, Page 4

THE H. B. STERLING.

STORIES OF THE RESCUE. BY MEMBERS OF CREW. CRUISER’S MEN PRAISED. By Telegraph.—Pres* Assort*don. Auckland, Jan. 25. Accounts given by the crew of th* Helen B. Sterling show that the vessel met with heavy weather prior to Sunday last. At 4 p.m. that day the mainmast was carried away and apparently this strained the vessel’s timbers and let in a certain amount of water, while two of the hatches failed to hold in the heavy weather and the heavy seat which came aboard leaked into the hold. Wireless operator Shaw sent out the first wireless at 8 a.m., followed by others of a despairing nature, the explanation of this being that thoee on board were doubtful if messages were being received, the power inward being insufficient for receiving properly, though the sending capacity was adequate. The hopes of all on board the doomed vessel were raised by the welcome sight late on Sunday night of the searchlights of the cruiser Melbourne, then racing to the rescue. Her lights were discerned 50 or 60 miles away. When she came in sight the schooner was virtually awash, only the poop decks appearing above water. As the Melbourne drew near th« schooner she poured oil on the waten to leeward, between herself and th« smaller craft. A perilous time then epsued in lowering one of the warship’s cutters. Eventually she was got away safely with Commander Ward Hunt in charge of a crew of 16 men. The cutter went to within some 70 or 80 feet of the schooner, which threw a line which was bitched on to the cutter. Commander Hunt then had a breeches buoy affixed to the rope, and this was sent aboard the schooner, when the rescue gear wan fixed in readiness. An apprentice was the first sent across. Some of the crew were then rescued in the same way, it being deemed inadvisable to bring off the women too early as the passage in the breeches buoy meant dragging them through the water for about 60 feet with the inevitable consequence of wetting. Further, it was desired to thoroughly test the gear with men. The last to be hauled into the cutter was the captain, though simultaneously the second mate dived overboard with a rope attached to him. and was dragged into the rescuing boat. Meanwhile the Melbourne had gone around to the windward side of the schooner and poured more oil on the waters. . Both at this stage and during the Melbourne’s thrilling race to the every soul on board the warship worked like a demon. After the survivors had been placed aboard the warship, the whole operation occupying two hours, the schooner was seen to be lying low in the water, heavy seas washing over her continuously, and it was judged that she must sink within three or four hours. The Melbourne had a rough tnp to port, arriving at 10 o’clock last night, when the crew were taken to the homes of friends or to .the Sailors’ Home.