Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1882-09-27
Exciting Scene in Mld-Ocean.

A correspondent who was a passenger
by the steamship Decca, which left
Madras for London on the LIST ult., sends
from Alden an interesting account of an
exciting scene which he witnessed during
a storm in the Indian Ocean. The vessel
encountered the monsoon few days after
leaving Colombo, and had a rough time
of it until the 18th ult., when the gale
became so violent that canvas had to be
taken in, awnings furled, and things
made as snug as possible.
The correspondent describes what fol-
lowed:
"I came on deck at a. NJ; it was
blowing fercely, and the spray coming
over the sheets There were three
of us on deck when the bell struck
Miss, Mr., and myself. We were hold
ing on to our chairs, which were firmly
lashed to the inner cabin skylight, under
the lee of the ladies' saloon. Part of the
crew were working hard to get the star
board lifeboat in-board, when a bigger
roll to the windWard warned us of what
was coming. Hold onp some oneshouted.
We held on. The chairs rushed forward
on their Iashings. The deck stood up.
right. In came the sea, over the gun
lifted the lifeboat out of its
shackles. carried it overheard, smash
ing away stanchions and davits,
and out to sea. Then came the horrid
cry of Man overheard!
"The helm was put down, the engine
reversed, and back we went ona search
all the more so as sharks had been seen
round the ship earlier in the morning.
The boat was presently seen some 200
yards of, keel uppermOst. Soon after the
two men were observed clinging on to it.
Then came an exciting two hours, during
which we steamed after the boat, which
was drifting rapidly toward the east.
But turning ship like the Dacca is
very slow business, and as she hung
in the winds eye, a jib was
hoisted to bring her round. By
the time this was done the boat, with its
pitiful looking crew, was away two miles
and more to leeward, and we were rolling
heavily and unmanagable. At last the
Captain decided to lower boat, and the
order was given, Stand by the boat ard
soon after lower who is going inhe. p
he shouted.
''The First Officer, Mr. Ingram, spraug
over the side, caught hold of the daVit
ropes and slipped down, but just as he got
near her great roll of the ship lifted
him clear of the boat twenty feet in the
air. As he came down again the boat
had drifted forward, and he was plunged
down in the boiling sea for five or six
seconds. Uphe came again as the. ship
heeled over, still hanging on, and missed
by an ace having his skull smashed
against the small boats side 1t was real
" terrible sight, and we shuddered us
we looked on, the boat all the while be-
ing dashed up and down by the violence
of the waves. But at last his opportuni-
ty came, and he dropped into the stern.
At once he was followed by the boat
swain, two fremen, and two European
sailors, the native crew hanging shame
fully back One of the passengers, )
young English officer, Lieut.. Wolff, Of
the Seventh Fusillers, a son of SirDrunl-
mond Wolff, volunteered at once. But
the officer in charge would not accept 2
passengers services while men of the
crew could be got. At last the boat
showed off and the oars were got out, and
in a terrible sea they set out for the
missing boat. Directed by the motions
of a man aloft, they got alongside her
and took the men aboard. Then began
hard row back.
eve lost sight of her again and again,
wondering how she could live in such a
sea. But still she held on, and got at
last under our lee. By the help of a case
of oil scattered over the waves, they
were comparatively stilled, ladder was
let down, and when the last man stepped
on board such cheer greeted him as told
him what we thought of his pluck and
that of the gallant fellows with him.
Capt. Burkitt was perfectly cool the whole
time, and managed his ship with great
skill. When the first officer got change
of clothes and came down to the cabin.
he received all kinds of congratulations,
and his health was drunk in bumpers OF
champaign. On Sunday morning we got
under the lee of Cape Guardafui, and SC
ended our brush with the Southwes:
monsoon. Manchester, Eng, Courier.