THE AWFUL CHOICE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 July 1940, Page 9

THE AWFUL CHOICE

CHIEF ENGINEER’S SACRIFICE. It is December, 1914. The cargo steamer Vedra is making a rough voyage to Barrow-in-Furness, and though a high sea is running everyone is looking forward to Christmas on shore. Among them is Arthur Evans, chief engineer: and his one anxiety is that the cargo of benzine shall be safely landed. After all, benzine is not the safest stuff to carry. But the wind increases, the Irish Sea runs furiously, and suddenly the ship is aground on Walney Island, the darkness over all. As she cannot be towed off, the captain orders benzine to be pumped out of the hold in order to lighten the vessel, and the work goes, on through the bitter night, the ship bumping continuously. , One thing is feared by the 35 men; on board—that the bulkheads may give way under the strain. The one thing happens in an instant. Before anyone can even cry out a warning', benzine flows out of the tanks, runs like a river of death to the engine room, and. igniting there, sends up a terrific sheet of white flame, a livid tongue roaring in the darkness, the force of the explosion shattering the ship and sending 32 of the men to glory in an instant. Three stagger to the blazing deck and among them is Arthur Evans. He stares at two lifebelts —two lifebelts for three men on a ship with GOOD tons of roaring benzine. “You two take ’em,” he orders. Dazed, they obey and go over the side. The ship roars on. and Arthur Evans perishes amid the flames.