TAHITI WRECK.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 201, 26 August 1930, Page 7

TAHITI WRECK.

SHIP'S LAST MOMENTS.

Graphic Narrative of Mid-

Pacific Drama.

BISHOP BENNETT'S STORY.

(United PA.—Electric Telegraph—Copyright)

APIA, August 25,

The following account of the last voyage of the Tahiti is supplied by Bishop Bennett of Aotearoa, who was a passenger on the ill-fated steamer.

There was little indication on the departure of the steamer from Wellington that there was anything wrong in the engine-room except for the vibration of the ship. This was so excessive that it was difficult to'read, and liquids were spilt at the tables. The passengers were informed that the vibration was due to the light cargo.

There were 107 passengers on board and a crew of 15S men. The ship was averaging 360 miles a day with 378 miles as her best day.

All was going well when a loud report was heard on the Friday at 4.30 ajn. The vessel was shaken fronf stem to stern and her engines suddenly stopped. The passengers were quietly informed that something serious had happened and were told to dress.

By the time the .passengers were on deck all the lifeboats were ready to he lowered. Each passenger was informed of the number of his or her lifeboat. Lifebelts were served out, and these were never taken off again until the passengers boarded the Ventura.

The second class passengers had to vacate their quarters on account of water coming through the deck. All the passengers assembled in the first-class lounge for the whole period and the staff provided meals as usual without intermission.

There was no panic and no excitement. The officers never met the passengers to explain the position and the passengers never worried the officers. They felt they were doing their best. The time was spent in playing games and in cheering each other with music. The behaviour of the passengers was splendid all through.

Great praise is due to the officers and crew for their hard work. They never rested until the passengers were safely on board the Ventura. Undoubtedly this work of bailing kept the ship afloat, for if the water had gone over the top of the bulkheads the ship would have been swamped. Fortunately there was always enough steam to work the winches. 2

The wireless was a great consolation to the passengers. After the accident a message was got througli to Wellington and a reply was received within 20 minutes. Then the dynamo was wet so no further messages could be sent or received until it was repaired.

An auxiliary broadcasting set on No. 1 lifeboat, with a range of 150 miles only, was then used and the Tahiti got into touch with the Norwegian cargo steamer Penybryn, 120 miles away. There was great joy when she informed the Tahiti that she" was returning. A wonderful feeling of relief came to us all when we realised that the Penybryn was to stand by all night in case of accident. We were specially grateful when we knew she was doing this at the risk of running short of coal. Ventura Arrives. At 10 ajn. on Sunday the Ventura met us, having come 700 miles out of her way ploughing through a head sea at a speed of • over 16 knots. When the Ventura received the call from the Union Company she was only three hours away from her destination at Pago Pago. As the Ventura's smoke appeared on the horizon all the passengers on the Tahiti were ordered into the boats, which were lowered. Although the sea was not breaking much, big rollers from the south made things unpleasant in the boats. It was niearly an hour before the Ventura arrived. As each boat arrived alongside her cheers were given by the Ventura's passengers. Each passenger from the Tahiti had to climb up rope steps. It was a difficult task with the swell and some had to have the rope tied round their bodies to assist them in the ascent. All reached the deck without accident. Only one officer fell into the water when a steering oar broke. He was immediately helped into the boat a^ain. The last to leave the Tahiti were her captain and crew. Three cheers were given as they arrived alongside the Ventura. They deserved it, as their discipline and organisation had been worthy of the best British traditions. As soon as the captain and crew arrived all the lifeboats were destroyed and sunk. The Tahiti was getting lower at the stem. The Ventura then gave a farewell blast and the Penybryn continued her voyage after having accompanied us for 15 hours. Farewell to Tahiti. We all watched her with intense interest till the end. At last nothing of the Union Jack could be seen. Her bow rose higher into the air until it was almost perpendicular, then she dived stern first in the midst of the seething ocean. Just as her funnels disappeared what appeared to be a tremendous explosion took place, sending up a black cloud, followed by steam. Then the vessel vanished, the sea boiling like a cauldron where she went down. The sight was awe-inspiring and pathetic. The emotions of many of the. crew, as well as the passengers, were deeply touched. One elderly engineer who had worked ten years on the Tahiti had to turn his face away, tears streaming down Ms cheeks.

Another engineer who had saved his pet green parrot "was carrying the hird cn one shoulder. Addressing tha parrot, he said: "Come on Peter. There goes our home. Let us turn our heads away."* He did not see the end. He could not.