, 'All right, Cocky, I will hold on
by my eyebrows,' and he drifted to another galley. Another Deal boat
then came along and relieved us of some of our men.

"Suddenly we heard a shout, and, looking around, saw the commander of
the Niger waving and beckoning to us from the stern of the sinking ship.
We could not go to him because our craft was so heavily laden. Another
galley then came along, and, after taking out some of our men, together
with those who were hanging on to our sides, we went closer to the
sinking gunboat and took off some more men, and at the Captain's special
request we waited until he took a final look around to see if there were
any more men left on board the vessel.

"By this time the ship was very nearly under water, and we shouted to
him to hurry up, as the Niger had turned over on her side and was likely
to go down at any moment. That brave Captain only just managed to jump
in time, when the gunboat gave a lurch and sank on her side in eight
fathoms of water. We were proud to rescue that Captain, for he was a
true sailor."

The other boats which picked up men were the Maple Leaf, the motor boat
Naru, the Annie, the May, and the Deal lifeboat.

The rescuing party saw one dead sailor floating by.

The majority of those rescued received first aid on being landed at
North Deal, and then they were taken in ambulances to the Marine
Hospital at Walmer.

One survivor, replying to a question as to whether the Niger was
torpedoed or mined, replied:

"Torpedoed, Sir. With the exception of the watch and the gun crews all
were below at the time. The first order we received was to close the
watertight doors."

So far as I can ascertain at present only one man is missing. Four or
five have been landed at Ramsgate. The crew is said to have numbered
ninety-six officers and men.

The sinking of the Niger came with tragic swiftness. It was
comparatively a fine, peaceful day, and the people were resting on the
promenade enjoying sea and fresh air. Anglers--men and women--were
calmly fishing from the pier. One angler whom I interviewed this evening
said:

"I had just baited my line and cast it out when I heard two loud
reports, like an explosion. I looked seaward and saw the Niger, only a
mile away, enveloped in smoke or steam. When it had cleared away. I said
to my fellow-anglers, 'Oh, he is letting off steam! When I looked at her
again I was startled to notice that she was lower in the water.
Fortunat