TERRIBLE PLIGHT OF A SHIPWRECKED CREW.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8987, 23 November 1907, Page 7

TERRIBLE PLIGHT OF A SHIPWRECKED CREW.

HEROIC RESCUE EFFORTS OF JJSJ THE LIFEBOATMEN. Scenes of a thrilling description were recently witnessed on the West Coast.of Clare in connection with the efforts of a lifeboat crew to rescue the men of the wrecked Norwegian • ship Leon. For many hours a desperate struggle was maintained between the lifeboat and the sea Jor the lives •of twenty-five men on board who, in their terrible Jfciremity, sought refuge in the rigging. The scene of the wreck is Quilty, one of the most treacherous spots known to sailors on this part of the coast. Barely two hundred and fifty yards separated the ill-fated vessel and the mainland, but a huge rocky barrier ran between her and the shore, and approach by the lifeboat wan only possible in a circuitous manner through a mile of heavy sea. The condition of the Leon, which is a steel vessel of 1,946 tons, was from the first well nigh hopeless, and she soon became almost submerged. Her sails were in ribbons, and mountainous seas washed over her. The crew huddled together ■at the bow, the only portion secure from water. So furious was the sea and gale that all the determined efforts made throughout the day by the brave coastguardsmen and lifeboatmen to communicate with the ship failed. As the afternoon wore on there seemed a prospect of the •vessel breaking up, and the crew took to the rigging. Their sufferings must have been terrible, lashed and numbed as they were by fearful seas. The crowd of onlookers on the beach were powerless to help. Now and then endeavours were made to put out to the ship, but the boats cjuld not live in the tremendous seas. The lifeboat had been brought over from Seafield station, some miles away, Queenstown being wired to to forward the rocket apparatus. Some of the iron plates on the port side of the vessel were torn away, and the beach was strewn with wreckage. When the tide receded somewhat two more attempts wers made to get at the men, of nineteen could now be distinctly observed on board, having descended from the rigging. The situat'o i was full of danger, tumultuous waves running to an enormous height, and once again the gallant lifeboatmen were compelled to return without reaching the ship. The idea in getting the lifeboat off a second time was to inspire the crew of tie shipwrecked craft with hopes that help was at hand, though at the time it was not believed that a landing at the stage could be an actuality. The vessel held togsther well throughout the night, contrary to the expectation of many that she must soon ; o to pieces. Jn the morning not on.'y the coastguard lifeboat, but the canoes of many of tho fishermen put off to the rescue, only to find again that it was impossible to approach sufficiently close to render assistance. The members of the crew could be seen in the rigging anxiously watching for rescue. At last the efforts of the lifeboatmen succeeded, for in the afternoon nine or ten of the men were got eff and safely landed ashore. T,ney were then in an exhausted condition.