RANGITATA TO THE RESCUE.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20021, 1 September 1930, Page 5

RANGITATA TO THE RESCUE.

GERMAN LINER FOUNDERS. ALL ON BOARD SAVED. | (rr.oit oua out* cosEesPOKJJM'r.) LONDON, July 25. The Rangitata, which was timed to reach Southampton yesterday, will not arrive until lato to-night. The delay has been caused by participation in a drama on the high seas. Late on Thursday of last week the New Zealand Shipping Company began to receive messages which told a story of a race to the burning Norddcutscher Lloyd liner Targis, and the rescue of the passengers and crew. "When the Targis had reached mid-Atlantic, 1000 miles out from the American coast, fire broke out in three holds. Captain J. B. Hunter, of the Eangitata, was in a position to render prompt assistance. Within a short space the intelligence of the plight of the Targis had been received by wireless at the London offices of the New Zealand Shipping Company. The first message stated that the passengers had been picked tip Some of the crew were still on the seas. Happily Captain Hunter was shortly afterwards able to report that all were safely aboard. Captain Hunter's dramatic messages ; m.—-Have picked ' up part of crew and all passengers of steamer Targis. Targis is badly on fire in Nos. 1, 2, and 3 holds. Am standing by, waiting to pick up remainder of crew. Will wire further details later. Thursday,. 11.21 p.m.—Vessel burnt out in Nos. 1, 2, and 3 holds and coal bunker. - Engine-room and boiler-room filling. - Vessel in sinking condition. A 1 passengers and crew picked up. All well. „ Thursday, 11.26 p.m.—Have all passengers and crew on board. All well. Standing by, watching vessel sink, at request of master of b.s. Targis. Friday, 11.30 a.m. —The master of Targis visited vessel at daybreak. Now reports fire practically out in holds. Still burning in bunkers. Vessel making water through buckled plates forward. Starboard boilers and furnaces under water. Engine-room 7ft water starboard side. Ship listed heavily to starboard. Master Targis trying to raise steam port boiler. Am still standing by. Weather fine. Sea smooth. Foundered After Midnight. Later messages from Captain Hunter i show that the Rangitata stood by throughout the day, and at one o'clock ! on the Saturday morning the Targis sank The New Zealand ship then proceeded on its way with the twelve German passengers and the crew or the Targis on board. To-night the rescued passengers and crew will be transferred by tender to the German ship Berlin, in Cowes Boads, and they will be taken direct to Hamburg. The Bangitata will then come on to Southampton. The Targis was an unlueky ship. In November, 1918, when she was known as the Dutch liner, Rijperkerk, she caught fire at Bastia, and burnt with such fierceness that she had to be sunk h V eunfire. She even continued to burn after she had settled down in ahflllow water. She was not refloated until the following March, when it was found, that she was what is known as a "construc,ivp total loss"—the coßt of repairs ex- . ceedinz the insured value. After the underwriters had settled the loss the vessel was bought by German owners, and was practically rebuilt. She was for-some time in the service of the Roland Line, and passed und er the manacement of the Norddeutscher Lloyd j T.ine when the two concerns were amalshe was insured on a value I 5 £55 500, of which'. S4MOD is placed with German underwriters, the balance coming to London.