12["Cheating The Cyclone", The West Australian, Wednesday 10 April 1912, page 7]

CHEATING THE CYCLONE.

A SURVIVOR'S GRAPHIC NARRATIVE.

Told at first hand the overwhelming fury of the great Nor'-West cyclone can be more vividly realised. Amongst the many vessels which experienced the full force of the storm and ultimately drifted ashore was the Whim Creek Co.'s, lighter Steady, which was wrecked on Depuch Island, but from which all hands were saved. One of her complement Mr. Chas. Turner, of Claisebrook-road East Perth, has just arrived in the city, and to a representative of the "West Australian" yesterday he gave the following graphic description of his experiences: "We started out from Balla Balla," began Mr. Turner, "on the afternoon of March 19, having aboard seven passengers and a crow of three. There was a light breeze blowing, and we made a good passage out to the Crown of England, for which ship we were carrying stores. After leaving her side we proceeded to the anchorage off Depuch Island to await the arrival of the Bullarra, which was due that night. Towards day light a breeze sprang up from the north east, which became stronger at sunrise and increased in strength as the morning advanced. We noticed three boats coming in towards us. These turned out to be three luggers belonging to the pearling fleet. They ran inside where we were lying and dropped anchor. After some time, however, they moved around to the south-east end of the island near Moore Island, where, as we learned afterwards, they lost one lugger and two men. Two other men (both Japanese) swam to the mainland, a distance of two miles, and arrived at Balla Balla naked four days afterwards. When the wind increased our skipper thought it advisable to make a move towards Balla Balla. We accordingly began to beat in. When we attempted to go about on our first tack the boat missed stays, and while in irons drifted well down towards the rocks. We got away, however, but on making a second attempt we again missed stays and drifted down so close to the Clio (another of the company's lighters which had been trying to unload upon the Concordia) but had been prevented by the rough weather), that we were obliged to drop anchor once more. The Clio, which was only a stone's throw from the Steady, and ourselves then settled down to

BATTLE OUT THE STORM

--such a storm as none of us had ever experienced or ever will again, I hope. The wind had now risen and we all realised that we were in for a bad time. A heavy sea was running, and to crown everything rain began to fall. The lighter had no hatches, and we therefore had no place in which to shelter. The copper which we carried was loaded on the deck. and there was only a small hatchway down the fore peak which we had to nail up in order to keep the water out. We tried many times to fasten the mainsail over the deck but as often as we did so the force of the wind broke it adrift again. The rain soon drenched us to the skin. Through the storm we could sea the two ships, Concordia and Crown of England, being tossed hither and thither much as we were ourselves. We next discovered that the Steady was dragging her anchor, so we dropped another, which held her again. Still the wind increased, and the raging seas continually broke over the vessel's bows, and wet us again and again. There were on board only sufficient provisions for one day, with the result that on the second day we had only one tin of salmon and one potato each. During the afternoon we had a chance of getting ashore in daylight, for if we had let go the anchors the wind and tide would have taken us in. But the skipper thought he could save the boat, so we held on. With the rain came a thick mist, and it was only at intervals that we could see even the Clio. About 6 o'clock the motor launch heaved in sight, and presently anchored almost opposite us. She brought with her Messrs. Hill, Maguiness, and Thomson, who had come out to meet the Bullarra. Leaving them on board the Clio, the launch put off again for Balla Balla, which she reached safely after a stormy passage. Night brought down with it an inky darkness. I do not think one soul on board will ever forget it. All the while the storm was gathering in fury. Very few words were spoken except when a wave would sweep over the deck and nearly swamp us. The cold was intense. There was no galley on the ship, and all we had was a firepot to light a fire in which was impossible. So we spent the night. Just after daylight the gale appeared to lessen, but the next moment it was blowing harder than ever. We could hear the cables straining against the boat, and feared every moment they would carry away. There was one thing to be thankful for;

WE HAD NO CROAKERS ON BOARD.

The morning of the third day broke, bringing with it still more intense cold, ard every gust that came sweeping along seemed strong enough to lift us out of the sea. About 6 o'clock that morning we noticed that the Crown of England was beginning to drift shorewards. If her anchors failed to hold we knew that nothing short of a miracle could save her. Then someone on board the Steady shouted, 'we are drifting.' It was only too true, for every minute we were leaving the Clio further behind. Out went the third anchor, and again we lay to. We had to keep the pumps going in order to prevent the boat from swamping. About midday the Crown of England had drifted above the rocks, and when the tide went down we knew she must settle down upon them. As we rose to a gigantic wave we could distinguish her plainly, and when we sank into the trough only the top of her masts would be visible. About this time the lighter Enterprise, which was anchored about a mile nearer Balla Balla than we were disappeared round the sonth-east side of the island. We ascertained subsequently that she became a total wreck, but that all hands, even the six sheep, reached shore safely. She had a crew of Greeks, and an Englishman and all Afghans as passengers. Of the eight Greeks employed on the lighter only one was drowned. Night set in again without there being any sign of the storm abating. If possible the wind was even more fierce. It fairly howled throgh the rigging, and for two or three hours we were so tossed about that we made sure we should all go to the bottom. Somewhere about 9 o'clock we heard a snap. One of the cables had carried away. To add to our troubles we found that the boat was

THREE-PARTS FULL OF WATER.

We had now been wet, without sleep, and almost without food for 62 hours. Mean while the boat drifted on - no one knew where, except that it was towards the shore. The question was: Would chance take us upon some small patch of sand or upon the hard cruel rocks upon which we must in evitably have been dashed to pieces? The [?swells]were now continuously washing over the boat. We kept the lead going, and the first few soundings gave sand. The craft was of course drifting stern on, and we all gathered together there prepared to jump for our lives when the crash came. All at once the lead gave rock. Then for the first time I felt my heart sink. But only for a moment. I remembered that some of the others could not swim, whereas I could, so I began to thick that after all matters might have been worse for me. We drifted on, passed over the rocky zone, and in a trice grounded on the sand. The ensuing wave shot us up to within 10 yards of the beach, and the next within a few feet of dry land. More than one of us said, 'Thank God.' We were not long in scrambling ashore, though the back wash came very close to sweeping us off our feet. Ashore we had another difficulty to face. The flying sand and shell travelled with such speed through the air as to almost bury themselves in our flesh. We climbed over the sand ridge with difficulty, and with some wet blankets over us lay down to await the dawn. It seemed an eternity before daylight appeared. Somewhere about 3 in the morning I heard voices calling out, but could not tell from which direction the sounds came. All through the night we could hear the Crown of England breaking up on the rocks. It reminded one of some big foundry and steam hammers at work upon steel plates. At daybreak I got up. Around me were small mounds of sand, each mound marking the spot where lay one of my mates still asleep. Climbing to the top of the sand ridge I could see the remains of the boats. The Steady was high and dry where we had left her.

The Clio was 100 yards out under water, and her sails were torn to ribbons. The Concordia was aground near by, but as the tide rose again she swung round towards the rocks. The Crown of England lay on the rocks

A COMPLETE WRECK.

Going down to the Steady I saw on the Clio what appeared to be a piece of sail, but which afterwards turned out to be two men clinging to the rigging. With the help of the crew of the Steady we were able to get the men ashore, and we then started off for the wreck to see if we could be of any use there. We had not gone far before we came across the first body, that of the only Englishman on board, who had a life belt on. A little further on we found an other body, also fully dressed and with a lifebelt. Further on again we picked up what was left of the unfortunae cabin boy. Then we came to a pile of rocks on which were huddled together the captain and the remainder of his crew. They presented a pitiable sight, and had been very roughly handled by the waves and rocks. They had another body with them on some timber just below where they were sitting. We walked down to where the ship lay, and the tide being out we obtained a good view of her. Her hull was in three pieces, while other portions of her were scattered about the shore. The bodies were removed above high water mark, and we set about collecting some of the provisions which had been washed in. Returning to camp we had our first good meal for four days. We had not known that tinned dog could be so appetising. After a brief spell we renewed the search for bodies, and found those of Messrs. Macguiness and Hill, and the steward and second mate of the Crown of England. The last two named had evidently come ashore on two hatches, which were lying beside them. Mr. Hill, a fine specimen of manhood, had only his boots on. He must have put up a game fight. Some Greeks I spoke to told me that Messrs. Macguinnes and Hill, and the steward and second mate of the Crown of England. The last two named had evidently come ashore on two hatches, which were lying beside them. Mr. Hill, a fine specimen of manhood, had only his boots on. He must have put up a game fight. Some Greeks I spoke to told me that Messrs. Macguinnes, Hill, and Thomson had hung on to the rigging for some time, but that they had then determined to make for the shore. Mr. Hill had shouted 'Good-bye,' and that was the last they had seen of them.

A lugger had now arrived from Balla Balla in charge of Captain Erickson, of the Concordia. After a consultation it was thought advisable to bury most of the bodies on the island. A spot for

THE ISLAND GRAVES

was selected on the highest part of the sand ridge under a hill of rock, and with shovels taken from the Steady a number of us soon had an extensive grave dug. The bodies were then carried up the hill, and placed side by side, the two skippers reading the burial service in Norwegian. As the bodies were being placed in the grave I noticed that that of the Englishman seemed almost to clasp hands with that of the Norwegian next to it. The thought flashed through my mind, 'Brothers in death.' The grave was then filled in, and a door from one of the ship's cabins was erected to mark the spot. It was an awesome sight to see those poor mangled bodies lying side by side. I shall never forget the scene, neither I think will any of the others. It was not until the morning after that the police launch came across from Cossack and took us into Balla Balla. I am sure none of us was sorry to get away from Depuch Island and all its terrible associations."

MR. WRAGGES VIEW.

To the Editor.

Sir,--Just allow me to say, in simple justice, that if the Central Weather Bureau, Brisbane, had been in existence--the annual vote for which did not exceed £1500 per annum--thres days' warning at least would have ben given of the recent cyclone off the North-West coast of Australia. --Yours, etc.,

CLEMENT L. WRAGGE.

Chiltern, Victoria, March 29.