_Intrepid_ had experienced a certain amount of shell fire when approaching the Mole, having apparently passed through an area which was being barraged by the enemy. She passed the Mole without difficulty and navigated between the obstruction booms. The sinking of the southernmost barge and the tearing away of the entanglement nets by _Thetis_, with the resultant widening of the unobstructed channel, had greatly reduced the chance of _Intrepid_ getting into trouble at this point. During the final run to the canal she had escaped serious damage from gun-fire {230} because nearly all the German guns were concentrating either on _Thetis_ or on the forces attacking the Mole. Having located the entrance pier, passing close to _Thetis_ _en route_, _Intrepid_ entered the canal and proceeded up the latter until just inland of the coast-line. Having reached the exact position as signed to her, Lieutenant Bonham-Carter at once commenced to turn his ship across the channel. As soon as he found she could be turned no further--it must be remembered that the navigable channel at that position was exceedingly narrow--he decided to blow the bottom out of the ship. The crew had been previously ordered to take to the boats, but Engineer Sub-Lieutenant Meikle and three ratings had not been able to leave the engine-room when the charges exploded. Fortunately these four individuals escaped destruction. The ship sank immediately. [Illustration: THE THREE BLOCKSHIPS SHORTLY AFTER THE ATTACK. INTREPID AND IPHIGENIA. The former the nearer to the camera] One cutter full of men pulled out to seaward and was picked up by M.L. 526, which has already been mentioned as saving the crew of _Thetis_. Another cutter pulled out to sea, actually past the Mole, and was picked up by the destroyer _Whirlwind_. Lieutenant Bonham-Carter, Lieutenant Cory-Wright his second-in-command, Sub-Lieutenant Babb the navigator, and four petty officers were the last party to leave the sunken vessel. They launched a raft and proceeded to paddle it towards M.L. 282, which had followed the blockships into the canal. Whilst on the raft this party had a very trying experience. The Germans had a machine-gun on the shore within a few yards. This gun and many others had been pouring a hot fire into the ship. A lifebuoy light had been inadvertently left on the raft and automatically {231} lit up on reaching the water. This gave away their movements. Every effort was made to extinguish the light; they even sat on it, but could not either obscure or destroy it for some time. The machine-gun bullets were cutting up the water all round them, and it was extraordinary that none of the party was killed. It is difficult to imagine any more awkward situation. By dint of great efforts they managed to reach the motor launch and all got into her in safety. [Sidenote: Completing the Block]