THE WAIKOUAITI

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 136, 6 December 1939, Page 5

THE WAIKOUAITI

SALVAGE WORK IN WATER

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) INVERCARGILD; December 5.

Though it was believed that the partially submerged state of the ship would prevent more cargo being salvaged from the Waikouaiti, a few tons were taken from the holds at lowtide today. The cargo, saved included 20 cases of olive oil, 30 cases of lubricating oil, and a few ingots of tin. S.alvage work was not easy for the men. A fairly heavy sea was running and a stiff nor'-wester was blowing. The Waikouaiti, which' was showing more signs of breaking up, had settled deeper in the water, and all the cargo in the holds was under water. To resume salvage work^men had to stand in water almost up to their necks. They wore lifebelts for a time, but later discarded them, as they hampered work. A feature of the salvage operations was the amazing performance of an Invercargill swimmer, who dived into one of the holds and brought to the. top on each occasion an ingot of tin weighing 56 pounds. Several ingots were saved thus.