WRECK OF THE SCHIEHALLION.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 110, 17 March 1879, Page 2

WRECK OF THE SCHIEHALLION.

(per press agency.) MIRACULOUS ESCAPE OF MRS STOREY. HEROIC STRUGGLE TO SAVE LIFE. Tho barque Schiehallion went ashore on the He of Wight during thick weather. There was a heavy ground aoa running at the time, which bumped heron thenhinglo, but being a strong vessel, she did not begin to go to pieces for an hour or more. After trying by shouts and other means to attract attention, David Moore, the cook, a courageous man and a bold swimmer, jumped overboard with a lead line and made for the shore. He nearly lost his life, but struggled hard, and at last by a supreme effort, favored by an advancing wave, reached the strand. Those on deck bound the end of the lead line to the hawser, which he made fast to a wreck. A man ashore, who had seen the wreck, went a? far as he could into the surf and clutched when they came within roach all those who dared to make their way hand over hand along the hawser through the breakers. Charley Storey, Mrs Storey's eldest child, a bravo little fellow, scarcely twelve years of age, was washed from the ship to the beach in this manner without the slightest assistance from those on shore, whose whole attention was concentrated upon the sailors they were rescuing, and whom Charley Storey had to reach over and to pass on the rope. Mrs Smith came along the rope in the same way, but was nearly drowned. The steward had a won- ; derful escape. He lost his hold of the hawser, but was washed under the stern of the ship and. was cast ashore by big wave. Betson, the second officer, a great favorito on board, who had been already exhausted by his efforts to save the women

and children and by loss of blood (his thumb having been crushed against the side of the ship), as he mado for land was carried out. Before this the wreck began ■ to break up, and the mainmast had gone over the side, as tho other masts subsequently did, to seaward. Had they fallen towards the land, many of those clinging to the port bulwarks would havo been killed. To the after rail on tho land side were clinging near together the last three remaining. The one furthest forward was a woman (Mrs Storey) who had refused to leave the ship before her children were safe. She was clad only in her / nightdress, and as the sea broke over he 1 '■ A there seemed no chance for her. H JB companions, who were old men, were [{£& exhausted and benumedeven to fasten life-line round her waist. There was a loud [ report, the poop split, and they went over- 1 board This was followed by a series of j reports, resembling the discharge of a ' pistol, us the iron plates of the hull parted from ono another. Then the ship parted i in two amidships, and tho fore and mizzen went by tho board. At this moment the wreck was lifted bodily up and pitched farther to tho starboard, as if it were about to turn over. It was sucked down apparently into the sea for a few seconds, and it seemed as if all was over with the engulphed persons, but the great sea running to shore lifted tho vessel back, and to the relief of all, the three 'figures were seen still holding fast to the rail. At length the second mate and captain rescued Mrs Storey, and dragged her up the sloping slippery deck until she could grasp the poor rail. As soon as she was fastened she threw herself into the sea, and was pulled under the waves, but the line became jammed, and although the nearest puller had clutched her, she was under the water. A shout went up, "Cut tho line but for the moment not a knife was at hand, and the men tore tho rope with their teeth, scarcely knowing what they did. The line having been cut, she was lifted from the breakers, laid un the pebbles, and the men took off their jackets and wrapped them about what appeared a lifeless form. After a few minutes her heart could be felt feebly pulsating ; two minutes later the artery at the wrist was throbbing. As soon as reaction has fairly set in, she was carried up the cliff. An old man was next rescued, and last of all the captain came ashore in tho lilie-buoy cradle. He was the only one that so saved. He too was pulseless, and delirious for sometimo after the reaction had set in.