she had a great slant to the starboard side, and the after deck was flush with the sea; and just before they left the ship the forehold was full of water, while the after hold was also admitting water. The voyagers soon lost sight of the stranded vessel. The natives were then coming to the scene from the various atolls round about in their little canoes, and it was expected *hat they could be depended upon for any assistance. Cap: tain Hadden had also taken the precaution to launch the ship's boats and have them alongside, and his intention was to remark the rest of the crew and some provisions to the atoll hard by, while himself and the second officer remained on board on the chance of signalling any passing Vessel if found necessary. The lifeboat was meanwhile sailing steadily towards Colombo and fine weather was experienced on the first day. Tuesday, however, broke nasty, gusts of wind blew, the greater part of the day, and to make matters worse it rained heavily off and on and the men were drenched to the skin with spray and rain-water. Matters became worse at night, and about 9.30 o'clock the mast snapped just above the thwarts. The boat now DRIFTED ABOUT HELPLESSLY, and while some repaired the broken mast others had to man the oars to keep the hoat's head steady. After drifting about here and there in the dark the mast: was gain rigged up and the voyage resumed Next day the weather was again bad and the sail had to be continually refed and unreefed for fear of the mast being carried away, while the bucket had to be constantly used to bale out the water, which was washed over. About 3 o'clock in the afternoon, Colombo being then about 150 miles distant, a vessel was sighted, and a signal being hoisted, half an hour later she came up with the boat. She proved to be the German steamer "Rudesheimer," outward-bound, which after giving the necessary directions and some provisions, continued her voyage. The following day (Thursday) was again squally and wet, and at night the weather was quite thick. The wind blow in gusts, SEAS BROKE. OVER THE BOAT, and the water had to be more frequently baled. The men were now quite exhausted, not having had sleep for-three days, as'all had to be constantly on the alert, the unusually nasty weather keeping everyone at work. Early this morning the weather improved and like a ray of hope, the revolving light from the Fort cheered the weary men, and the boat sailed into port at 6.90 o'clock. The life-with the "Nithsdale," besides the Captain, are two officers and thirty-two men.
later issue of the "Times of Ceylon" states that another enquiry in connection with the loss of the Nithsdale was held at the office of the Superintendent of Wrecks, Colombo, by Mr. K. W. B. MacLeod, Deputy Collector of Customs. scar Andrean, who was the man at the wheel at the time of the accident, stated "Twenty minutes before the accident the Captain altered the course two points to the South, so it became W.S.W. The steering gear was in order. Ten minutes before the accident I said to the Captain we have struck something." there seemed to be something wrong. The vessel was heading W.8.W. at the time. There lit jerk on the vessel. Almost after there was a heavy jerk as though the ship was scraping over something, I still steered W.S.W. In a few minutes the vessel finally struck on the reef." He added that as the Captain made no reply when he called out that the ship seemed to hare struck something, that it was possible that the call was not heard.
The boatswain Charles Shildrake, was asleep at the time of the accident and awakened by the vessel running ground. Under the direction of the Chief Officer he helped to get out the lifeboats and afterward to take soundings, which were continued all night. When daylight broke the Chief Oticer had the starboard life-boat fitted out and stocked. He then called for volunteers to aeon pany him to Colombo and met with a ready response. The boatswain, who remained behind, was ordered a fow minutes later by the second elficer to jettison the bags of sugar forming the cargo. At dinner time there was water in the hold. At night the water was at least six inches throughly tight except in No. 2 hold, Huigher than at dinner time. The ship was where she was making water at the rate of one inch an hour. On Wednesday, the 10th September, the Captain gave orders for the manning of one of the boats on the port side and the gig on. the starboard side, so that if the ship should go down, as she slid off, the men leit on board could be picked up. An unsuocessful attempt was then made to slide the vessel off the reef, and in consequence of the failure the boatswain was ordered to continue working the sugar. That night the Captain "gave permission to any who wished to go ashore and sleep. The boatswain and others accordingly rowed to Sator Island, about 3}, miles from the ship. Describing what followed the boatswain said: "A fow aninutes after we landed there, the Prime Minister of the Sultan of the Maldives also landed. He had come then to seo if he could render any assistance and I stood talking to him about the state of the ship. Just by this time I looked round and saw that the ship had slid off the reef, and I exclaimed to another seaman who was near by: "Good Heavens, the ship is afloat, let us go on board!" She had a list down' by the head and was up by the stem. The Minister told me it would be impossible to get on board that night as it was getting squally. A squall broke two minutes later and I and a sailor and fireman stood on the sands watching the ship's movements. Wo then saw the Captain head her on to the reef again. She lay still for a considerable time, how long I cannot tell, and then she seemed to be gliding slowly northward and westward. After that it came in dark. Wo then went and had a biscuit and water and I: proposed to keep the watches... I kept the first watch. It was dark-and.I
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.