THRILLING RESCUE

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LVII, Issue 9985, 25 January 1929, Page 2

THRILLING RESCUE

SHIP HELPLESS IN HEAVY SLA. Nett* York, Jan. 21 The rescue has been effected of {he crew of 32 men on board the Italian cargo steamer Florida, which was yesterday reported to be iti distress about 700 miles off Norfolk, Virginia, A wireless message from Captain George Fried, in charge of the liner America, says his crow rescued the Florida’s complement in an hour at great risk. A full gale was blowing and tremendous seas were running. The laconic message ended: ‘‘A liteJj(out was lost. We are proceeding. Details later.” It is questionable how the lifeboats could have survived the great seas, but if any men were lost with the lifeboat it is eviden they must have been some of the rescuers. At present it is not known whether there was any loss of life. Captain Fried said his chief officer, Mr Manning, was in charge of the rescue work. Ho must have performed wonders of seatnanshp in such it , pressure of wind. An earlier wireless message from the captain of the America said he was standing by the Florida, which he had located more than 700 nules off Virginia Capes. Her lifeboats had been completely shattered and her rudder was broken so that her position could not be controlled in the heavy seas which wore then beginning to become less severe. The crew of the Florida were suffering from cold and exposure to the water, which was menacing the sodden hulk. Captain Fried said he had experienced great difficulty in reaching the crippled vessel as she had no wireless. His discovery of her is further proof of his exceptional skill ns • mariner. The American oil-tanker Dannedaike reported that sufficient repairs had been effected to enable her to creep slowly toward Bermuda. She is . believed to be safe at present, but is being watched continually. The President Harrison and the Yorck have abandoned their search for Jier owing to lack of fuel. The British steamer Teesbridgo was bound from Fowey Cornwall, t° Philadelphia, Her S.O.S. on Sunday said two hatches were stove in and . her stokehold was flooded. She was then 300 miles east of Cape RaceNewfoundland. -She has not been located by the rescue ships and is believed to hate , been lost with her crew of 30 men. -