TORPEDOED SHIP

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 59, 19 December 1940, Page 6

TORPEDOED SHIP

A FEW CASUALTIES CAUSED.

CAPTAIN’S GOOD SEAMANSHIP.

RESCUE WORK IN A GALE

(United Press Association —Copyright.) (Received This Day, 12.25 p.m.) LONDON, December 18.

Captain Reid, commander of the steamer Western Prince, could easily have saved himself after his ship was torpedoed in the Atlantic, hut he went to the bridge, sounded three blasts on the siren as a farewell to passengers and crew and of defiance to. the U-boat as the ship went down. Seventy-two passengers and 99 members of the crew from the Western Prince landed at a west coast port, including Mr Howe, Canadian Minister for Munitions, who declared that the ship was torpedoed at 5.50 a.m. on Saturday. Five lifeboats were safely cleared hut the sixth capsized, resulting in casualties, which were light because of Captain Reid’s magnificent seamanship in getting the lifeboats away in dangerous seas, also the skill of the captain of the rescue crew.

The crews of both ships were marvellous. There was no panic among the passengers. Mr Gordbn Scott, financial adviser to Mr Howe’s department, was drowned. Three babies were hoisted aboard the rescue ship, during the gale. The victims included the captain’s steward, who was safely aboard a lifeboat'when be remembered the ship’s Spitfire fund and went back to get the money and was drowned. A honeymooning couple were drowned when they returned to their cabin to collect their wedding presents.