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[Page 54]
who had taken to boats, were picked up by the "Huon" while the "Warrego" proceeded full speed to Brindisi.
The "Parramatta" then took the "Orione" in tow, first of all sending Lieut. C. Hill, R.N., and Engineer Lieut. Clarence Bridge, R.A.N. aboard her to report on the damage.
These Officers finding the ship perfectly seaworthy with the exception of her rudder and propeller being blown away, the Captain and a volunteer crew of Italians returned to their vessel. Some French T.B.D's now came along, and so the "Huon" was despatched back to Brindisi with her load of survivors. A French T.B.D. relieving the "Parramatta", that vessel returned to the patrol ground.
A Narrow Escape
The next twelve hours on the "Orione" lacked nothing in excitement. A heavy gale from the N.E. sprang up, tow line after tow line parted, and eventually the French gave up hope of getting the "Orione" into port, while the gale lasted. Lieut. C. Hill, who, with Lt. Bridge, had remained on the ship, found himself about midnight rapidly drifting on to the Italian coast in the neighbourhood of Castro. He decided to let go both anchors, and, with the aid of some of the volunteer crew, this was done, and the cables paid out to a clinch.
The "Orione" appearing then to ride at anchor in moderate comfort, these two Officers, there seeming nothing else to do, turned in. About 6 o'clock Hill was awakened by the Italian Skipper who, wildly gesticulating, implored "L'inglese Ufficiale" to come on deck. Yawning, Hill consented, when the Skipper led him forward on to the focs'le. On arriving right in the eyes of the ship, "look, senore, look!" in agonised tones came from the Skipper. Hill looked, and it didn't increase his appetite for breakfast when he saw a mine of goodly proportions and many horns bobbing about, and missing the cables by inches as they tautened and slackened in the heavy sea.
An Awkward Predicament
It was not a nice predicament. Not a boat was left on the ship to get away should the mine explode under them, and not a gun or rifle by which they could destroy the mine before it reached them. By this time they had dragged sufficiently near the coast for