CHIEF OFFICER'S STORY.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20021, 1 September 1930, Page 9

CHIEF OFFICER'S STORY.

VALUE OF WIRELESS. I [THE PRESS Special Service.] AUCKLAND, August 30. The chief officer of the Penybryn (Mr A. N.' Neilsen) corroborated the captain's story as to the absence of list in the Tahiti. "As the Tahiti's lifeboats brought the passengers to the side of the Ventura there was. loud applause," he said. "Passengers leaning over the side of the rescuing vessel loudly cheered aa each boat drew alongside. They showered every hospitality upon passengers and crew alike. "Between 9 and 10 on Monday morning (New Zealand time), the Tahiti," ho said, "sent out an A.G. signal and communicated the message that the crew were over-tired and could not transfer the mails and luggage, and that "the .ship was being finally abandoned. We immediately lowered a boat which I took charge of, and we made three trips between the Ventura and Tahiti, carrying mails and luggage., 1 he Tahiti's crew certainly looked done up. All' the passengers were in the lifeboats when the Ventura arrived, and it did not take long to get them aboard. A few of the crew stayed by the ship, but a little after one o'clock the. captain of the Tahiti left his vessel with about a dozen hands, who had stayed ti] " The Tahiti did not appear to be settling down although slio was deep seiwrufe water washed over the after-deck as she dipped with the heavy swell. When we came up on Sunday night there were no e ectne fights on the Tahiti, the only illuminugnts u hurr icane lamps, flares, and Steam was on-the boilers all torches. Steatnw captain left fU "W; got a radio on Sunday morning stating that the bulkhead had given aD " Those' on board must havo f elt a great relief when we arrived," he said.

"It was a clear indication that they were all to be saved. It is a great tribute to wirelesa. It seems wrong that many vessels of 2000 tons and under do not carry wireless. Some of these ships have a crew of 17 men and surely they should have a chance as well as those in larger vessels. Wireless has saved thousands of lives already." A glowing tribute was paid by Captain Salvesen to the work done by the second mate (Mr H. Nielsen) as wireless officer. "He was at the set for 48 hours on end," he said, "with only aa interval of three hours. It was a great feat and showed great endurance under trying conditions.'' Captain Salvesen himself holds awireless "ticket," but he was too busy on the bridge to take any part in the wireless operations. He also had a trying time, and had practically no rest throughout. The captain was the first deck officer in Norway to receive a wireless certificate. That was in 1915.