Providential Rescue.

When the Hurunui esaped from the nightmare of the Aderney Race she was given such sail as she would stand, and started to thrash down the Channel. Captain Plunket had just gone below for a much-needed rest and was lying down "all standing," as sailors say when theypage 260 lie down in their clothes, when he was called by Mr. Seeley, who reported a sail ahead that seemed determined to get run down by the Hurunui. The mysterious stranger proved to be a small craft almost on her beam ends, and flying urgent signals of distress.

Mr. McCarthy was sent away in the Hurunui's boat—never did he see a boat better handled, says Captain Plunket—and made a wonderful rescue of the three men on the wreck, which proved to be the lugger Bessie Waters, bound from Caen to Barnstaple in ballast. In the storm she started to leak, the ballast shifted, and but for the timely arrival of the Hurunui there would have been three more sailors mourned. The master of the lugger expressed great astonishment at Captain Plunket's feat in bringing a sailing ship of the Hurunui's size through the Alderney Race. "Old coaster as I am," said the lugger master, "I'd never dream of coming through the Race without getting a pilot at Guernsey, and as a matter of fact the Race is never used by coasters as it is too risky."

"Lloyd's Shipping Gazette" referred to "the gallant rescue by Captain Plunket," and published a letter from the crew, expressing their gratitude to the captain for their timely rescue, and for landing them at Plymouth instead of taking them on a long voyage.