STEAMERS IN PERIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20162, 24 January 1929, Page 11

STEAMERS IN PERIL.

STOEM ON ATLANTIC.

FATE OF BRITISH VESSEL.

•TBESBBIDGE FEARED LOST.

IWO REPORTED SINKING.

OTHER SHIPS TO RESCUE.

Br Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Australian and N.Z Press Association. (Received January 23. 5.55 p.m.) NEW YORK. J lin . 22

'A Bntish cargo steamer, the Teesbridge is feared to have been lost off Halifax in a storm. No word has been received from her sinoo yesterday when she reported by wireless that she Was in distress.

The steamer Maine and other ships ■went out in search of the Teesbridge, bat have so far failed to find her. Virtually all hope for her has now been abandoned, but. two ships will continue the search.

The liner America, in charge of Captain George Fried, who has been the hero of many marir.o rescues, is battling with mountainous seas in an endeavour to reach two sinking ships which sent out calls for aid this afternoon. One is the Italian cargo steamer Florida. She reported that she had lost her rudder and was otherwise disabled. The other vessel is the American oil tanker Dannedaike. She sent a message to say she was in distress surrounded by tremendous seas. Both steamers arc situated about 750 miles off Norfolk. Virginia. Tho Florida has a crew of 32 men and the Dannedaike carries 55.

Broadcasting along the coast and at sea has been silenced and every attempt is being mode to reach the two vessels. The America will only be able to attain a speed of 10 knots in the westerly gale which is blowing. It is believed that she cannot reach the two ships in much under 50 hoars

The wireless operator on bnjrd the Dannedaiko advised that the vessel needed immediate assistance.

Oiher vessels, notably the liner President Harrison have also been held up by the severe weather. She and a German cargo steamer, the Yorck, are approaching the Florida and the Dannedaike, the lifeboats of which have apparently all been shattered by the seas.

The' crews cannot do more than keep #s much water out of the vessels as possible. If the rescuo ships arrive at the scene to-night they will probably be able to do little until the morning, because of the weather. The condition of the stricken vessels is nut known definitely.

The Teesbridge, v.hich it is feared has been lost, is a steamer of 3398 tons She was built in 1905 by R. Stephenson and Co., Limited, at Newcastle, and the owners arc the North of England Steamship Company. Limited {Crosby, Magee, anil Co., managers). Her port of registry is West Hartlepool.

The Damiedaike, the American vessel which is in distress, is a steamer of 4310 tons belonging to the Dannedaike Steamship Corporation (C'has. King and Co., managers). She was built at Baltimore in 1919 and her port of registry is Boston. She is used for carrying petroleum in bulk. The second disabled vessel mentioned in the cablegram, the Florida, is a steamer of 3503 tons, registered at the port of Genoa and owned by A. T. Rosasco. She was formerly known as the Grazia Quarto and subsequently as the \ alsalice. She was built in 1904 by R. Cragg and Sons, Limited, at Middlesborough.