Thrilling Rescue Stories - Cries of Drowning Men Across the Water.

Graphic and thrilling stories of the disaster and of the subsequent heroic efforts made to save as many as possible of the crew were given to our representatives at Barry, and the conduct of Captain Benson, of the Swedish steamship Ebba, and of Mr. J. Sparkes, Barry pilot, was of a character in keeping with the highest and best traditions of British and Swedish seamanship. Captain Benson answered the signals of distress by steaming up to the scene of the collision, but, finding that to trust himself to a small boat in the ordinary way meant a certain sacrifice of his life, he tied a rope round his waist and bravely lowered himself from the Ebba into a small boat and saved the lives of two of the Orianda's crew. No less splendid was the heroism of Mr. Sparkes, whose difficulty in getting at the men when his boat was being tossed about like a cork on the tempestuous sea can well be imagined. After a series of supreme efforts he was able to pick up three men and take them safely aboard. One of the men taken aboard by Captain Benson was found to be dead, the struggle having proved too severe for him.

It was inevitable that some touching incidents should have happened in the course of the terrible fight for life. Captain Williams, for instance, was seen by Mr. Robert Aitken, the chief engineer, to be swimming about, and when within hailing distance the skipper of the Orianda, was heard to make his last appeal, "Can't you help me, Aitken?" The reply was heart-breaking, "No; I am too done up."

But the narratives of the survivors are so admirably recited that they had better perhaps, be given in the words of the rescued men themselves.

Brave Barry Pilot and Crew - The Barry representative of the Evening Express,"on being apprised of the disaster" about six o'clock on Sunday morning, proceeded to the pier-head and boarded the Barry pilot-yawl Britannia. (No. 10), belonging to Mr. J. Sparkes, of Mount Oswald, Redbrink-crescent, Barry Island, which had rescued three of the ill-fated crew. These happened to be foreigners, and, although they had been made as comfortable as possible through the kind attention of Mr. Sparkes and his men, and provided with clothing, stimulants, and food, they were still in a dazed and exhausted condition after their terrible experience, and were unable to give a coherent account of what had happened.

Mr. Sperker, however, who was seen at his residence, told our reporter a thrilling story. He said that about one o'clock that, morning two of his men (Colin Dowswell, of Gloucester, and Ernie Davies, of 43, Harbour-road, Barry) informed him that there was a vessel burning blue lights and blowing her whistle for assistance just ahead.

"We were close reef at the time," he added. "I came up on deck at once, and saw the lights to the south-west of us. We sailed down as quickly as we could, and in about five minutes I saw the signal lights, and someone on our quarter - probably Captain Williams, of the Orianda - called out, 'We have been in collision, pilot. There are men in the water. Try to save them.' The ship's boats were out, but they could not live in such a sea. Immediately I heard that there were men in the water I got away to windward, and almost immediately I heard the cries of the men in the boat. They seemed to be some distance off, and were shouting all together to attract attention. We made for them as quickly as possible, and found they were in a small boat, which was waterlogged, and one side of the boat was entirely out. The men were in a shocking state, and could do hardly anything to help or save themselves.

There was a steamer coming up, which I afterwards found was the Ebba, of Sweden (Captain C. F. Benson) and I hailed her and said, 'There is a wreck on our port bow; try to save the men.' The steamer put her helm hard aport, and came round immediately to render assistance.

I made one or two tacks and came upon a boat containing six men, one of whom called out, 'Save us, pilot; we are drowning.' I replied. 'Yes, keep cool, and we will save you.' We got our punt out, and although it was very dangerous in such a sea, one of my men, Ernie Davies, who seems to have, the strength of a lion, laid hold of one of the poor fellows, who were all in a helpless state, and he was put on board the yawl. We again beat round, and I secured another man and put him on board. We tried again the third time, and I managed to lay hold of another, who seized me by the arm and called I out in despair, 'Oh God! save me, pilot.' I replied, 'You keep cool; I will save you.' Then came a terrible sea and struck him, dragging him right away, and he went under, and as he gradually released his hold his finger-nails tore into my arm—(marks of which were plainly visible on his arm and the back of his hand). We still continued to stand by, and Dowswell secured another and carried him into our boat. I was then told that the steamer Ebba had rescued the remainder, and we beat about to see if we could find any more in the water, but found none. They had all evidently gone down by this time, as everything was quiet."

Mr. Sparkes paid a tribute to the gallant services rendered by his two men, adding, I have two good fellows in my boat, and I am proud of them." He was greatly affected, however, by the experiences of the terrible night, and said that, although he had been instrumental in saving many lives during the past fifteen years, he did not wish to go through such an awful time as this again.