CHEERFUL SURVIVORS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 145, 20 June 1940, Page 15

CHEERFUL SURVIVORS

/ ■ ADRIFT IN LIFEBOATS. SINGING IN TfiE COLD. The explosion occurred at 3.40 a.m., and at 5.32, just under two hours later, the Niagara disappeared, A spread of oil, odd deck fittings here and there, a chair or tiro floating on the calm sea marked the 'spot. And in those two hours there had been not the slightest confusion. ■■;[ When the explosion occurred the ship shook from stem to stern. Passengers were in some cases hurled from their bunks, hatch covers and stanchions from one hold were thrown into the air, and the rapidity and volume of water pouring into the hold made it evident that the bottom of the ship had opened. ? Hurriedly, the paeserffeere grabbed clothing or blanket* and wenf on deck. Lifebelt* were secuied, but thoughts of saving personal property were discarded. Those on board acted magnificently. When the lifeboats had been lowered the passengers and crew took their places in them ae orderly as though they .were going through boat drill. Skip Abandoned. The order to abandon ship had been given almoet immediately after the explosion and by four o'clock almoet all paseengera and orew were in the lifebouts. Traditionally some of the last to leave were members of the engine-room staff, who, with the second engineer, Mr. E. H. Church, and third engineer, Mir. F. Hugihes, remained to cool the boilers, minimising their chances of saving their lives to do what they could to prevent the boilers from exploding and creating further havoc. One fireman, Mr. J. L. Murray, remained attending to hie duties'so long that when he appeared on deck all the lifeboats had left' Ois boat quickly returned and took him on board. . ; Awaiting Rescue. In the 18 boats the β-urvivors bearing the colli of the early morning waited. The boats drifted apart and soon spread out over an area of some miles. Many Of the men and women had lost much, but they were cheerful and sang popular songs while they awaited dawn and the arrival of help. This came some hours later. The Niagara , * distress signal had been flashed and picked up, relayed to an overseas liner to divert her course and proceed at full speed to render aid. The supercharged motor boat attached to the Royal. New Zealand Air Force had been sent north, 'planes.had left their bases and flown to the scene, and launches and fishing craft also had gone lo assist in the work of reecue. Aeroplanes coasted, overhead to see that none of the boats with survivors was lost sight of. An overseas liner and a ooaetal boat of the Northern Steamship Company, commanded by Captain A. Peart, arrived, and to these were transferred the occupants of the lifeboats. This wae completed about two o'clock in the eltcrnoon and the survivors brought to Auck- -» Arrivinor ajhrart. 8.30 n.m-