DRAMATIC ARCTIC RESCUE.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 206, 28 August 1920, Page 19

DRAMATIC ARCTIC RESCUE.

.___-_._,. s» FIGHTING THE ICE. 'HACE WITH BOLSHEVIST SHIP. Captain Otto Sverdrup, of the Sviatogor, telegraphing to the "Times" from Vardo. Norway, gives a graphic account of how ne rescued the .Solovei, a Russian ice-breaker, Jammed in the ice in the Kara Sea ln tbe Arctic Ocean with about 80 people on hoard. THE CAPTAIN'S STORY. It was in April last that I was entrusted with the task of leading the relief expedition. The big powerful ice-breaker Sviatogor was placed at the disposal of the expedition by the British Government and sent over to Bergen, whence we set out ou May 13. Ou June 17 we picked up the Kanada which hud been dispatched by the Soviet! Government to give assistance if It should be necessary, or iv case there should be difficulties of any sort in consequence of the political changes which had occurred since the Solovei had left Archangel. BRITISH WIN. There began an exciting race between the two ships. With full steam, up from all Its 10 boilers, the Sviatogor burst her way splendidly -through the strong pack-ice. Now] and. then she w-as beaten and had to back and make a fresh attack at full speed. It was not often that more than two attempts had to he made, but it happened sometimes that the manoeuvre had to be repeated nine I or ten times where the Ice was unusually I awkward, for In places it was 20ft thick or| At flrst the Kanada had a little start, but (he roles were soon changed. The Sviatogor went ahead and continued to increase her lead, and when at last we' sighted the Solovei far away northward on the horizon, the Kanada had fallen Mr behind. THE SOLOVEI IN SIGHT. In the Sviatogor all were keenly alive to the anxiety and seriousness of the situation, and followed with eager interest the display of prowess given by the ice-breaker during those hours of the night. Of the crew, all who were not actually keeping wan-h were on deck hour after hour discussing and marvelling at tbe varying features of this extraordinary drama. Some stood leaning over the rails so as better to enjoy the sight of the great blocks of ice, now crushed Into fragments before our bows, now hurled in a whirling maze along the ship's sides —and all to a wild accompaniment of deafening crashes ln the ice, and of groans and walls and shrieks from tbe hard-pressed vessel's hull and rig and enclnes. When, as frequently happened, our ship rushed at full speed against a really hlgn, solid Work- of Ice. and at the same timerose several feet in the air, a shower of, spray and ii-e splinters flew over the deck) and foroci the imprudent spectators to a headlong retreat. In the meantime we were approaching thel Solovei. but it "was a slow business. Thei .Ice became worse and worse ln the lost stage, and It was on midnight when we reached her. An hour more was required before we could moor the Sviatogor hy her side, so big and thick were tbe surrounding ice-floes. 4 A.M. HCItRAHf*. The whole crew of the Solovei and all her passengers, S7 in number, had gathered on deck and were greeted by us with a resounding hurrah, to which they responded In the same way. About 4 o'clock in the mnrninz we were awakened by load hurrah-, from the crew of the Solovei, who were hailing the arrival of the Kanada. which had at last got through. Had the Kanada not been so fortunate as to get Into the lane road" in the Ice by the Sviatogor, it would have been hardly possible for her to arrive so soon. Next day «' shipped more coal and provisions on board | the Solovei, and were helped with hearty good will by the crews of the two Russians. We started on June 20 on our homeward voyage, the Sviatogor leading and the Solovei and Kanada following. At flrrt tho ice was loose and fairly easy to get through, but afterwards it became closer nnd more difficult to force. We were unlucky enough to ground on an unknown sandbank. W e at once began to tranship coal to the Solovei and Kanada In order to get the Sviatogor afloat again, and after unloading 6."_> tons of coal we at last got her ofT. The remainder of the Toyage was uneventful.