Missing.....

[Brett Hayes]

Missing.

“Gentlemen,” announced the captain,
“I have distressing news —
We lost a steward late last night
Upon the pleasure cruise.

“With the gale that we’ve encountered
Increasing in its force,
I wonder should we mount a search
And steam back on our course.”

“Well, I suggest,” said the Purser,
“We are obliged to try,
Or otherwise it might be thought
We left the man to die.

“Would it not arouse suspicion
And seem a dark affair,
To leave astern a drowning man
And not appear to care?”

“It would be wise,” rejoined the Mate,
“To cover our good name,
And guard ourselves against a charge
Of negligence or blame

“But also we should consider
The trouble and delay —
The missing man is now at least
Some seventy miles away.

“Might not a long and costly search
Disrupt the pleasure cruise?
With the voyage schedule broken,
The time that we should lose.”

“In one respect, I would concur,”
The Chief Engineer said,
“But don’t you think that by this time
The man is surely dead?

“With gusts of gale force eight in strength
And squalls of driving rain,
It seems to me there’s little chance
Of seeing him again.”

“A good point,” remarked the Captain,
“I’d venture to agree,
No man could survive for long
In such a heavy sea,

“So, in view of the conditions,
The time and extra cost,
I believe it would be prudent
To give him up as lost.

“Although the poor chap might have slipped
And fallen over the side,
In my report I shall imply
A case of suicide.

“I’ll get Sparks to wire a message
As quickly as he can
To notify the Company
About the missing man,

“And ask that when they break the news
Of this sad loss of life,
They’ll tender our sincere regrets
And sympathy to his wife.”


Brett Hayes EDH (R863743)

[The tongue-in cheek verses above were inspired by my reading an article in the Daily Express in the summer of 1972 reporting
an inquest into the loss at sea of a steward (if my memory serves me right) while employed on the QE2.]

[happy daze john in oz]

We had two go over the side on the Windsor, both suicide.
But not found in time for any search.

[James Curry]

Think these days you go over the side on a cruise ship they notify the coast guard and thatss it , John Oz cruises a lot he may know.

[Captain Kong]

A Steward went over the wall on the old Franconia after the 1960 Strike, he worked all through it.
He had been beaten up a few times during the trip to NY ,I was QM on the wheel when I had to turn the ship around and went back for a couple of hours no chance of finding him
Brian

[Des Taff Jenkins]

I was washed overboard in the North Atlantic in Feb 52 in one f the worst storms I ever encountered at sea, but was lucky to have been washed back on board, there would have been no turning around in those seas. I was lucky, just eleven miles away a logging ship went down with all hands during that storm.
Des

[happy daze john in oz]

There have over the ears been a number of 'guests' go over the side on cruise ships.
But rails are at a Hight such that to go over you must either climb, or be thrown over.

Last year there were three such occasions, one was found and of course the media claim they fell over.
But some idiots do climb on rails for selfies and other photos.

Heard of one case on a Royal Carribean ship where a guy was warmed about sitting on the rail.
Caught a second time and he was put off a the next port of call.
Safety at sea is still considered to be a serious consideration.

[John Arton]

I was 3rd mate on one of C.P's forest product ships and after clearing the Carribbean homeward bound fully laden with timber and timber products we got stuffed in a huge north Atlantic storm. We were hove too riding it out when the Spanish chippy went forward to check out the forward gear store where attachments for the munck gantry cranes were stored. Instead of using the under deck tunnels to get access he chose to go up the starboard side main deck alongside the gantry cranes tracks. A huge sea came on board, picked him up and smashed him against one of the gantry cranes before washing him overboard, this happened despite attempts to stop him going out onto the open deck. It was impossible to turn the ship to go and search for him as the ship would most likely capsized and the poor guy was likely have been dead after been smashed against the crane. A few of the Spanish crew wanted us to turn and search for him, even to the extent of threatening us on the bridge watch with a fire axe.
Rgds
J.A

[Des Taff Jenkins]

Many years ago a Swedish or Danish seaman went overboard in the Caribbean , he was drunk, after I think it was three days an Indian seamen on lookout on another ship heard someone singing in the sea, [Here the seaman was lucky the Indian didn't put his hands over his ears.} The ship picked him up, he had been in the water swimming for those three days talking to his Mum. Like me One lucky bloke.
Des