BENUMBING SUSPENSE.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 January 1922, Page 7

BENUMBING SUSPENSE.

WOMEN ON SINKING SHIP.

“AN ABSOLUTE NIGHTMARE.” Conspicuous among the group of men gathered on the quarter-deck of the warship Melbourne when she drew in to rhe wharf at Auckland last week r.o land the passengers and crew of the schooner Helen B. Sterling were the figures of two women and a little boy, Mrs. G. Harris, wife of the schooner’s captain, and their son, and Mrs. J. Harris, wife of the first mate. They bore the appearance of women who had passed through a fearful strain, yet gave a brief description of their experiences with a calmness and quiet self-posses-sion that left the impression that they had faced many hours of deadly peril with fortitude and courage (reports the New Zealand Herald).

“The whole thing is still an absolute nightmare,” said the captain’s wife. “I can hardly remember any details of tne dreadful hours as they passed. We were down below' in the cabin all the time; it remained quite dry, although the waves were sweeping over the deck outside. I think the worst time we went tlirough was before we got the Meloiirne’s wireless saying she w r as coming to us; we expected the boat would sink any minute. The message put some heart into us, but as the hours passed it seemed impossible she could get to us in time. We were ready to take to the boats at any minute in case the schooner should go down, but we felt that would be the end of us all. I did not attempt to get any of my things together; I felt it would be no use, so we have both lost absolutely everything but the clothes we are wearing.

“Then at last came word down to us that the Melbourne had sighted us, and we knew we were saved.... We did not go out on deck till they sent a boat off for us. We could hardly realise we were saved; tlie suspense had almost numbed our minds. All I remember is being strapped into a breeches buoy, lowered over the side, and dragged through the water to the boat. It was still dark, and the sea very rough.... Then at last we were on the warship, and it was all over.” Both the captain’s wife and her companion were prostrate all day Tuesday •from the reaction after 'their fearful experience, but, although still obvioiis|ly shaken when they -reached Auckland, the comfort of being among friends and safe in port once more had a heartening influence. The small boy was undoubtedly the most cheerful member of the party. He seemed to have come through an experience such as falls to few boys of liis age with remarkable pluck. He had been very frightened, he confessed, but what had grieved him most was tlu thought that he might neyer see his two little sisters agajn. Upon landing at the wharf, hearty cheers were given for the two women by the company of the Melbourne, echoed heartily by those at the barricade, as friends took charge of them and hurried them off to home life and care.

A high tribute to the courage displayed by the two women on board the Sterling was paid by a member of the ciew. “The women were among the calmest on the ship,” he said. “They kept their heads and showed no fear. Throughout they behaved like true sailors.”