RESCUE EFFORTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 270, 14 November 1928, Page 7

RESCUE EFFORTS.

OVER 200 SAVED.

Huge Airship To Be Dispatched

To The Scene.

HABDSHIPS OF OASTAWATS.

(Australian and N.Z. Press Association.)

(Received 10 a.m.)

NEW YORK, November 13.

A stirring drama of the sea is disclosed in the details of the rescue work in connection with the foundering of the British liner, Vestri3 (10,494 tons, Lamport Holt Line) en route from New York to Barbadoes

The vessel was stated to be carrying 127 passengers and 210 of a crew, all of whom took to the ship's lifeboats when the vessel assumed a dangerous list owing to 1 cargo shifting.

The American Shipper has wirelessed stating that she picked up three lifeboats with survivors and is still standing by. Her message also stated: "One boat and one raft are still missing."

A further message from the French ship Myriam said that she had rescued two lifeboats with survivors, including the Vestris' commander, Captain Carey.

Officials of the Lamport Holt Line here declared that each lifeboat was capable of carrying 57 persons on which basis between 250 and 285 persons should now have been rescued. No actual casualties were reported up to 8.30 this morning.

It is now definitely established that 181 survivors have been rescued to date, as follows :< —The Myriam picked up 33 passengers and crew, including the captain, the American Shipper 33 passengers* and 90 of the crew, while the battleship Wyoming has wirelessed: "Passing through wreckage. Picked up fiva people from the water."

The Radio Marine Corporation intercepted a message stating that the steamship Berlin was carrying the passengers of two lifeboats, but it was not known whether these have been transferred from another rescue ship.

Later messages from the scene of the disaster bespoke possibly tragedy. The Wyoming reported that she had rescued another survivor clinging to wreckage, shortly after which the Berlin sent three messages in quick succession. The first read: "Rescued a man, believed dead, in a drifting lifeboat." The second stated: "Rescued one man drifting in lifebelt. He tells that a woman with a child is drifting here within a radius of two miles." The third stated: "Still searching for two lifeboats and a makeshift raft reported to have two women."

It is thought possible that the first and second messages may be confused but no confirmation is at present available.

The last of the foregoing messages from the Berlin was at variance with other reports regarding the number of lifeboats and rafts still missing, especially with a message relayed to the coastguard headquarters at Washington from its Norfolk, Virginia base, which advised that all the lifeboats bad been picked up, but one rait was missing.

This message also stated that the American Shipper and the Myriam were proceeding to New York, while the Wyoming was heading for Hampton Eoads. The coastguard headquarters ordered the cutters Mascoutin, Manning and Modoc to continue the search with the destroyers Davis and Cucker. The Berlin later wirelessed that the first of her messages was erroneous and the second should be substituted for it. Meantime the naval dirigible Los Angeles is expected to leave Lakehurst late to-day to aid in the search. It is now definitely established that there are at least 205 survivors saved and possibly 212, but this still leaves at least 127 passengers and crew unaccounted for.