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| SHIPWRECKED MATELOTS |
We were anchored out in Buckner On the night of April the ninth When we heard the news that a Sydney's crew Were afast on a reef in the Bay For they had missed the chartered channel They had missed the hill behind But they had hit the rocks on a coral reef An anchor had broken away. There were no rafts or lifebelts I hear for the passengers and crew So a hammer we took and the canopy shook as it was belted away. To serve as float. For all men in the boat and officers too they say The Very Pistol was fired, at random into the sky But none heeded the call from shipmates all Or the lights that exploded away So it was all over board, and Lt. Harris was heard to say We'll swim for the ship! Come on me lads it's the breaststroke, crawl or the cray And floundering about in the water Mr Marshall was there like a duck He couldn't swim but he sure did shout Don't leave me lads; don't pass me by, But take me back to my Flight Deck and all my armourers too. But upon the misty night with the rain apelting down Came a cutter as a lifeboat to rescue the ship wrecked crew The first one out of the water like a rocket I heard them say Twas Lt. Harris all dripping and wet but a face all wreathed in smiles To be the first from the watery bath to be saved and safe in the cutter at last One by one they were hauled on board and none were left I hear Full throttle ahead the coxswain said And back to the ship they came, all happy to know That they had been found After a darned fine swim in Buckner bay December 20, 1999 Jim Reardon
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